Pubdate: Thu, 16 Jun 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: New Zealand Press Association

LAW GETS TOUGH ON SELLING PARTY PILLS

The law covering the sale of "herbal party pills" and possession of
methamphetamine has been toughened.

Under the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act, which MPs passed yesterday,
the sale of pills containing benzylpiperazine (BZP) will be restricted
to buyers over 18 years old.

BZP contains properties resembling amphetamines and
Ecstasy.

The law also:

* Lowers from 56g to 5g the amount of methamphetamine someone must
hold before it is presumed to be for dealing.

* Creates new offences relating to the importing and exporting of
substances used to make methamphetamine, such as ephedrine and
pseudoephedrine.

* Allows authorities to search and seize those substances without a
warrant.

* Shifts the onus of proof for possessing a needle or syringe to the
prosecution rather than defendant.

Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton said the law would get "tough
on the peddlers of the very dangerous drugs, like the manufacturers
and importers of methamphetamine and its precursors".

The only party to oppose it was Act, which said it did so on the
grounds it had been rushed through the parliamentary process.

Under the law, restricted substances such as BZP are to be listed in a
new schedule. Those substances could be subject to restrictions
relating to advertising, distribution, manufacturing, sale and supply.

These can also be amended at a later date.

The select committee considering the bill recommended the Expert
Advisory Committee on Drugs continue to monitor research on the level
of harm associated with BZP and assess the risk it poses.

Customs Minister Rick Barker said the new law conferred much needed
powers to track and prosecute the importers of methamphetamine
precursor drugs.

Since authorities had stepped up controls on the sale of cold and flu
medicines containing pseudoephedrine, criminals had turned
increasingly to importing them.

Seizures had skyrocketed from 10,300 tablets in 2000 to 1.8 million
last year.

"Importers of precursors now utilise false names and addresses, safe
houses, or unwitting recipients for the importation of precursors.

"These techniques are identical to those used by persons or groups
importing illicit drugs and need to be considered an offence," Mr
Barker said.

The law would also allow customs officers to make "controlled
deliveries" of the precursors, allowing them to be tracked to the
actual importer.

United Future MP Judy Turner welcomed the law's regulation of party
pills.

"We want to see the Government continue to both gather data on the use
of these substances and to draft a separate act of Parliament to cover
substances that are legal but regulated."

Green MP Nandor Tanczos said the party was pleased the law introduced
a "fourth rung" to restrict rather than ban some new drugs.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin