Pubdate: Wed, 07 May 2014
Source: Gisborne Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2014 The Gisborne Herald Co. Ltd
Contact: http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/Contact/
Website: http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/924
Author: Jeremy Muir

PIONEERING LAW FOILED BY LAB ANIMAL INDECISION AND ELECTION YEAR

It was probably too much to expect New Zealand's innovative 
psychoactive substances regime to survive an election year.

MPs who passed the legislation 119-1 last year have climbed over each 
other to "fix" the situation in recent weeks, in response to angry 
protests over the very visible impacts in communities around the 
nation - especially in smaller cities that have had one seller of 
these drugs since August intead of a dozen, aggregating antisocial 
behaviour and providing a focus for people's outrage.

Full credit to the Greens for refusing to back a knee-jerk approach 
to drug policy. While they acknowledge cons as well as pros to the 
legislation, they blame the Government for the worst effects - for 
not implementing the law properly, to keep more dangerous products off shelves.

Parliament has taken too long to decide against the use of 
psychoactive "guinea pigs". This debate should have reached a 
conclusion before or straight after the Psychoactive Substances Act 
was passed, so other testing could begin as soon as possible.

All synthetic cannabis and party pills will be removed from regulated 
sale at midnight tonight. Some of the estimated 150 to 200 addicts 
(which seems light) will need help to manage their withdrawal, but 
most will already know where to get their product of choice on the 
black market - or soon will, as delighted gangs extend their range of drugs.

Psychoactive manufacturers will have already identified the 
lowest-risk products they will spend up to $2 million on testing to, 
they hope, prove they are low risk.

When they return to shelves the law will be functioning as it should, 
ensuring products are as low-risk as possible and regulating their 
sale. It is just a huge pity there will be an interim prohibition 
with all its less visible but more pernicious associated problems.

Gisborne District Council will be ready with its own policy. It is 
proposing retail of legal highs be limited to either Gladstone Road 
through the CBD, or part of the Industrial Subdivision. It is also 
looking to amend a bylaw to prohibit their use in public places. 
Submissions are due by May 19.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom