A MACKAY mother is worried synthetic cannabis, available from a Mackay corner store, is destroying her partner's life.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said her partner had been buying the synthetic drug for the past five months.

"Over the last five months I have noticed a large change in my partner's behaviour," she said.

"He has become paranoid, angry, not being involved with any family activities - slowly pushing his family and friends away.

"It has become a large addiction for him, and has put a lot of stress and strain on our relationship."

The woman said she had never tried synthetic cannabis because her family was "way more important to look after".

She said it should be banned.

"It should be banned for the simple fact it is ruining families and the smoker's health and wellbeing," the woman said.

"A lot of other ladies I have spoken to about the same issue have taken the further step and (are) actually leaving their partners," she said.

"This synthetic cannabis is killing the smokers and destroying families."

Mackay Crime Prevention Unit Sergeant Nigel Dalton said any synthetic substance which closely mimicked a real drug was illegal under Queensland law.

According to a paper published in April by the Australian Drug Foundation, synthetic cannabinoids were the most common new psychoactive substance in Australia. These substances were designed to mimic the effects of an illicit drug.

Banning Mackay shops from selling the drug needed to be done immediately, the woman said.

"How many families have to be hurt from this synthetic drug that local shops think ... is completely okay to sell it?

"You are wrecking families and the smoker's health as you're making it an easy addiction, as it's so easy to walk into your shop and purchase it," she said.

The shop allegedly selling the drug was unavailable to comment yesterday.