Twenty-year-old Gunnedah man James Traynor, who literally “came back from the dead” in January after smoking the substance, is Robyn’s nephew.

James purchased a synthetic cannabis product called ‘Smokin Hot’ from a Gunnedah store and suffered a severe reaction.

Robyn said James was clinically dead in his father’s arms.

He was rushed to Tamworth Hospital where an emergency doctor was able to insert a tube into his throat and he went from zero brain activity to 10 in one minute.

Robyn said her nephew thought it was a safe and legal alternative to smoking marijuana.

“It’s a miracle he is alive and we want to put the word out there so no-one else has to go through what he and his family did.”

Robyn said she already has a couple of hundred signatures and hopes more people want to see this dangerous product banned.

“I’m writing this petition to get this product off the streets, deemed as illegal and not readily available to our teenagers, who are most at risk of buying it,” Robyn said.

“I want to say ‘here is the proof that the majority of people in our society don’t want it on the streets’.

“The word legal is making young people think it’s ok to take it.”

Following growing concerns in the community about the availability of synthetic cannabis products, the government banned the possession, use and supply of seven common synthetic cannabinoids, effective from July 2011.

Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson welcomes the petition, claiming he is well aware that the community wants action.

“When I receive the petitions I will make sure that the Attorney General gets them and is again made aware of the problems our community is facing in relation to synthetic drugs,” Mr Anderson said.

Mr Anderson will be advocating in parliament to close the legal loop hole that allows manufacturers to change the combination of chemicals to evade the law.

The state MP has also appealed to retailers, who are selling these substances.

He said the Legislative Assembly Committee on Legal Affairs is currently inquiring into what further reforms are needed.

“The trouble is, these people who manufacture the substances, keep coming up with different names for it,” Mr Anderson said.

“Suppliers are re-badging this dangerous substance that is freely available, which I have a major concern with.

“That’s the problem we face and that’s what we have to try and fix.

“What if this was your son or daughter? This stuff can have serious consequences,” Mr Anderson said.

“I’m putting it out publicly, appealing for those people who stock these synthetic drugs, they know who they are, appealing to their decency, their good will and their morals, that if this drug is available to people on the streets, it can have fatal consequences.

“I’m looking forward to receiving the petitions and continuing to put this matter on the radar to put pressure on the retailers so that they will remove the product from their shelves,” Mr Anderson said.

“NSW Health and doctors say these products can cause hallucinations, depression, paranoia, psychosis and in the case of James Traynor, rendered him unconscious.

“There is no doubt that this is dangerous stuff and we need to take action.”

The government is in the final stages of its inquiry, after the issue first came to a head in 2011.

Robyn said now that James and his parents have talked out about the product and its dangers, more people are speaking out about using the substance or knowing someone who has.

“It only takes one person to be brave enough to put it out there and say this is not good,” Robyn said.

“We not only want to make this product illegal and not readily available, we want to raise awareness so people know what they are up against when experimenting with dangerous legal substances.”

If anyone would like to help Robyn with either handing out petitions or wanting to sign, they can email her on wobby22@hotmail.com