First legal high hearings begin this week

The first hearings over the sale of legal highs in Auckland are set to begin this week with 120 submitters wishing to speak to the Auckland Council Hearings Panel.

Speakers will include representatives from industry groups and owner-operators through to health experts and community associations as well as members of the public.

The Council received 1,454 written submissions on its draft Local Approved Product Policy which has been consulted on since October.

The hearings, which begin on Friday, and are expected to run for a month and will be heard by councillors Linda Cooper, Denise Krum, Sharon Stewart and Dick Quax.

Councillor Linda Cooper, chair of the panel, says that the hearings process will provide all sides with the opportunity to ensure their views are represented.

“The draft policy was put together with a view to protecting the vulnerable, while respecting the legal rights of businesses to sell licensed products,” she says.

“There are strong views on both sides of the debate, which we need to hear before coming to a decision on this issue.

“It is important to remember that the council cannot ban these substances, and this decision is about where the substances can be sold once they are licensed by government.”

–ENDS-