Pubdate: Wed, 13 Apr 2005
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2005 New Zealand Herald
Contact:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300
Author: Kevin Taylor and Derek Cheng

NITROUS OXIDE DENS BANNED

The Government has ruled that selling or buying nitrous oxide to inhale is 
illegal, but promoters of the gas are already planning to sidestep the ban.

Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton said yesterday that following a 
legal review, authorities would now warn people that "nos" was illegal.

He said nitrous oxide was a prescription medicine and its unrestricted sale 
was illegal under the Medicines Act.

Christchurch bars selling nitrous oxide as a recreational drug have drawn 
criticism from school principals, local body politicians and residents.

On weekend nights in the city centre, young people can be seen doubled over 
on the footpath outside nos bars, sucking on $5 gas-filled balloons and 
giggling as they enjoy a dizzying high.

The substance gives people a cheap headrush lasting between 30 seconds and 
a minute.

Last year, Mr Anderton condemned nos delivery services in Christchurch, 
which he said allowed "very young people to dial up 'highs' as if they were 
dialling up a pizza".

Murray Muir, the general manager of Cosmic Corner, which sells nitrous 
oxide in boxes to take away, said nos bars were an increasing problem.

But bar-owners had been anticipating a legal crackdown and had prepared a 
defence, he said.

"There are three grades of nos: medical, food and automotive. So you need a 
prescription to sell the medical grade nos, but not the food grade.

"People can get nos from dairies for cream whippers and Soda Streams."

He welcomed the greater control over nos bars.

"But there's a lot of grey area here. There needs to be a test case."

This year, Christchurch police asked for legal advice on whether nos bars 
were breaking the law.

Mr Anderton said selling nos without a prescription was now an offence 
carrying a maximum penalty of six months' imprisonment or a $1000 fine.

It is also an offence to possess prescription medicines without reasonable 
excuse, with the penalty being three months in prison or a $500 fine.

Because it was new advice it would be unfair to start prosecutions 
immediately, he said.

Taken in combination with other drugs, nos has been implicated in the 
deaths of two young men in car crashes in Christchurch and Nelson.

Mr Anderton said nos could cause harm to lungs, freeze-burns to lips from 
inhaling directly from the nozzle of dispensers, anaesthesia, collapsing 
and choking on vomit while unconscious.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman