Pubdate: Sat, 12 May 2007
Source: Press, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2007 The Christchurch Press Company Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.press.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/349
Author: Dean Calcott

FIRST CONVICTION FOR BZP SUPPLY

A Christchurch man is the first New Zealander to be convicted for 
illegally supplying BZP, after the party pill was reclassified as a 
restricted substance.

In the Christchurch District Court, Shane Tristan Capstick admitted 
two charges of supplying a restricted substance, BZP, to a person 
aged under 18.

Capstick was fined $350 on each charge, which carries a maximum 
penalty of a $2000 fine.

It is the first conviction of the type in a prosecution brought by 
the Ministry of Health under the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act 2005, 
in which BZP was classified as a class C drug, bringing it in line 
with cannabis.

In March, a North Canterbury woman was charged similarly, but got 
police diversion on a charge of supplying BZP pills to a girl aged under 18.

Otago MP Jacqui Dean launched a private member's bill in April to ban 
the manufacture, sale and possession of BZP.

Dean said one of her concerns was that because BZP mimicked the 
effects of harder drugs it could lead users on to them. Associate 
Health Minister Jim Anderton has also moved to ban BZP.

The group representing party pill retailers, the Social Tonics 
Association, claims BZP provides a safer alternative to illicit 
drugs, but yesterday said it welcomed the prosecution.

Its chairman, Matt Bowden, said it showed putting regulations in 
place did work, as long as the law was enforced.

He claimed party pills were a safer alternative to hard drugs and 
alcohol, but they were for adults, not children.

The association wanted them sold only to people over 18, and wanted 
advertising where children could see it made illegal, Bowden said.

Health authorities have regarded the mixture of BZP and alcohol as 
especially dangerous, because it can lead to loss of control, 
including memory loss.

The active ingredient is benzylpiperazine. Its adverse effects 
include psychosis, renal toxicity and seizures.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman