Pubdate: Tue, 29 Apr 2014
Source: Nelson Mail, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2014 Fairfax New Zealand Limited
Contact:  http://www.nelsonmail.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1069

GOVERNMENT FAILURE IN LEGAL HIGH DEBATE

The people have spoken and the minister has finally listened. Or the 
cynics will say that Peter Dunne has banned legal highs due to 
pressure from the media and Labour's plans to do the same.

Whatever the reason, it is a win for many communities around New 
Zealand. Dunne was obviously feeling the pressure of constant 
lobbying that he reacted in such a way, despite repeatedly arguing 
that bans do not work. As recently as Saturday, he stated on TV that 
bans on selling legal highs did not work in Ireland or New South 
Wales. He even quoted the Irish minister of health telling him that 
the banning of the drugs was the worst decision his government had 
made. This was a message he repeated time after time. So, why the 
change of heart?

The policy Labour planned to announce yesterday involved introducing 
a bill to the House on the first sitting day to remove all 
psychoactive substances from shelves.

On Sunday, Dunne said a "mad rush" to bulk-buy synthetic cannabis 
before it's pulled off the shelves lay squarely at the feet of the 
Opposition. Cabinet gave the go-ahead for a law change two weeks ago. 
Dunne will introduce the legislation to Parliament under urgency on 
May 8. "It had been my intention to hold the announcement to much 
nearer the time to prevent panic-buying and stockpiling."

He admitted his decision to bring the announcement forward was a 
political one, sparked by Labour's planned announcement. "The 
consequence is going to be there will be a period now of binge-buying 
over the next couple of weeks and they have to bear the 
responsibility for that."

The New Zealand Drug Foundation has criticised the decision, saying 
it will lead to stockpiling and black-market sales. Unfortunately, 
what has been evidenced in many cities and regions is that the 
Government's failure to deal with the issue has led to a growing 
demand for the product, with queues outside shops selling the highs. 
If the sales do, as suspected, go underground then that is a 
consequence of the policies and is better than young children 
witnessing drugged people on the streets early in the morning.

The decision to not legislate against legal highs was flawed from the 
beginning. The Government should have started by banning all products 
until they were proved to be safe. Instead they came up with the 
psychoactive substances legislation which was passed last year. It 
largely left councils with little power to solve the issue. The 
Nelson City Council should be congratulated for writing to the 
Government to ask for the option of an outright ban and awaiting 
further information from the Ministry of Health before proceeding 
with a policy.

Dunne has been woeful in his leadership of the issue and has been 
reactive rather than proactive.

What happens next will be crucial. The next fly in the ointment is 
the sensitivities around the testing of substances on animals. Prime 
Minister John Key has ruled out tests on rabbits and dogs, but animal 
activists don't want testing on any animals. How the Government deal 
with this issue will also be crucial.

Banning legal highs may not be the perfect solution, but something 
had to be done.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom