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New Zealand in U-turn on designer drugs New Zealand in U-turn on designer drugs
(35 minutes later)
New Zealand has reversed its stance on allowing some designer drugs to be legally sold following a public outcry. New Zealand has reversed its stance on allowing some designer drugs to be legally sold following an outcry.
A change in the law change effective from Thursday will ban the sale and possession of all synthetic drugs, ending the sale of 36 substances, many of which had been designed to mimic marijuana. Five other substances were banned earlier this year.A change in the law change effective from Thursday will ban the sale and possession of all synthetic drugs, ending the sale of 36 substances, many of which had been designed to mimic marijuana. Five other substances were banned earlier this year.
The changes follow criticism that the drugs were addictive and were causing community disorder and violence. Tens of thousands of people signed petitions opposing the drugs and plans to test them on animals.The changes follow criticism that the drugs were addictive and were causing community disorder and violence. Tens of thousands of people signed petitions opposing the drugs and plans to test them on animals.
New Zealand last year drew international attention after enacting a law that allowed synthetic drugs thought to be low-risk to be sold while waiting for pharmaceutical-style testing. New Zealand last year drew international attention after enacting a law that allowed synthetic drugs, thought to be low-risk, to be sold while waiting for pharmaceutical-style testing.
The law still allows manufacturers to sell the drugs if they can prove them low-risk after rigorous testing. But health officials have yet to develop testing protocols. Manufacturers may find the hurdles insurmountable after lawmakers on Wednesday also banned the use of animals in testing the products. The law still allows manufacturers to sell the drugs if they can prove they are low-risk after rigorous testing. But health officials have yet to develop testing protocols. Manufacturers may find the hurdles insurmountable after lawmakers also banned the use of animals in testing the products.
"The mistake at the passing of this legislation was that 41 products were given interim licences because there'd been no complaints, no records of harm, no belief that any of these substances caused any concern," said the health minister, Tony Ryall, in an interview with the Associated Press. "What's become quite clear in the subsequent nine months or so is that they were causing harm." "The mistake at the passing of this legislation was that 41 products were given interim licences because there'd been no complaints, no records of harm, no belief that any of these substances caused any concern," said the health minister, Tony Ryall, in an interview with Associated Press. "What's become quite clear in the subsequent nine months or so is that they were causing harm."
Ryall said manufacturers would need to decide if they wanted to pursue the approval protocols but he would be happy if they did not.Ryall said manufacturers would need to decide if they wanted to pursue the approval protocols but he would be happy if they did not.
"It's not going to worry me if someone doesn't want to do it because of the cost or anything, because actually I don't think we should have these substances if we can avoid it," he said. "It's not going to worry me if someone doesn't want to do it because of the cost or anything because actually I don't think we should have these substances if we can avoid it," he said.
Ryall said health officials had been surprised to find the size of the market for the drugs, estimated at about NZ$140m (£72m )a year. He said health professionals will help the 200 people known to have become severely addicted to the drugs. Ryall said health officials had been surprised to find the size of the market for the drugs, estimated at about NZ$140m (£72m ) a year. He said health professionals will help the 200 people known to have become severely addicted to the drugs.
New Zealand has been inundated with designer drugs in recent years and has often found itself a step behind the manufacturers. Once a drug is declared illegal, a maker often alters its composition slightly to create a new, legal compound. Ryall believes the new rules will stop that from happening.New Zealand has been inundated with designer drugs in recent years and has often found itself a step behind the manufacturers. Once a drug is declared illegal, a maker often alters its composition slightly to create a new, legal compound. Ryall believes the new rules will stop that from happening.
Other drugs including marijuana and cocaine were already illegal in New Zealand and not subject to the law changes.Other drugs including marijuana and cocaine were already illegal in New Zealand and not subject to the law changes.