Industry Welcomes Christening of Drug Regulations
Friday 11th May, 2007.

The Social Tonics Association of New Zealand (STANZ) today welcomed the first prosecution under the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act of a man who sold party pills to a minor.

STANZ Chairman Matt Bowden said today “The regulations which Parliament agreed on some time ago state that it is illegal to supply BZP to a minor and STANZ supports that regulation.

“This shows us that putting regulations in place does work, as long as the law is enforced. Party pills are proving to be a safer alternative to hard drugs and alcohol but they are just for adults, not for children.”

STANZ has asked government to go further than this and has submitted a comprehensive and professionally drafted regulatory regime to further restrict sales of party pills. “We only want them sold from places where entry is restricted to people over the age of 18 - no dairies, and we want it illegal to put any signage or branding where children can even see it. These measures coupled with a bit more education and we'll have party pill regulation more in line with things like alcohol.”

STANZ submitted the regulations to be promulgated under the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act and has already advised its members to withdraw signage and branding from anywhere that children will see it.

“The experience throughout history and internationally is that prohibition doesn’t work, the drug war has been a disaster overseas and the onus is on flexible forward thinking countries such as New Zealand to develop more practical solutions to the problem, and that is what is happening here,” said Mr. Bowden.

ENDS

LINK TO STANZ REGULATIONS and CODE OF PRACTICE
http://www.stanz.org.nz/proposed%20regs_001.pdf
http://www.stanz.org.nz/code%20of%20practice_001.pdf