Psychoactive substances could be back on the shelves in weeks

Psychoactive substances could be back on the shelves in weeks Team Manurewa spokesperson and Manurewa Local Board member Toa Greening was shocked to discover that interim licensing arrangements in the new psychoactive substances bill could see the products back on the shelves of dedicated stores in weeks. In fact websites have now been set up by psychoactive substance promoters, which provide the interim licensing details to dedicated storeowners.

“The interim licensing arrangement gives no time for local councils to implement location, density and sensitive site restrictions. It really undermines the whole low risk legalised psychoactive substance goals of the bill” says Toa Greening.

“I spoke to the bills select committee and stated that all non-prescribed psychoactive substances should be banned, as we have enough issues with alcohol and do not need nonprescribed mind-altering drugs in any shape or form in this country.”

The work by the Manurewa Member of Parliament Louisa Wall, local board member Colleen Brown, local businesses and communities to encourage retailers to voluntarily remove psychoactive substances from their shelves has been fantastic. The Manurewa community has a lot of heart and really want to see these substances banned forever. Team Manurewa community leaders Elizabeth Barrowman, Lillian Cattell Judi Goldsworthy, Jane Logan, Barney Manaia and Ezekiel Robson all agree that the Government should prohibit psychoactive substances.

The current bill was portrayed to the community as the only way in which New Zealand can control psychoactive substances. In fact most people spoken to in Manurewa believe that psychoactive substances have been banned forever and are shocked to learn that it has instead been regulated and legalised.

Ireland led the way by prohibiting all non-prescribed psychoactive substances back in 2010. This resulted in an immediate reduction in related psychoactive substance health issues and crime. New Zealand has unfortunately gone in the opposite direction by being the first country to introduce “low risk” psychoactive substance legalisation. This is a misguided experiment with our communities and needs to be urgently reviewed by parliament

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