4 March 2005

Hon Jim Anderton MP, Progressive Leader

Anderton's plan to regulate party pills is before Parliament

Parliament must act to stop party pill retailers selling their products to children, Progressive MP for Wigram, Jim Anderton, said today.

"My electorate office has today been fielding calls about the sale and promotion of party pills to children in Hornby.

"I was first made aware of stories last year about children getting hold of so-called "party pills", also known as legal highs.

"I thought it was inappropriate at the time but Health officials advised me that such sales were legal.

"That is why I sought advice from the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs which recommended that BZP, and other similar party pill substances, should be regulated.

"Late last year I asked Parliament to give favourable consideration to my proposed law change, known as a Supplementary Order Paper (SOP), which seeks to regulate the sale and promotion of these legal party pills.

"My view is that it should be illegal to sell these products to any one aged under eighteen. I hope that Parliament will soon pass my initiative into law in order to allow this to happen," the Progressive leader said.

Jim Anderton is Associate Health Minister in the Labour-Progressive government. He chairs the ministerial committee on drug policy.

Jim Anderton's Misuse of Drugs Bill No. 3, and the accompanying SOP. on party pills, is currently being considered by the multi-party Health Select Committee.

"I have been invited to meet the Health Select Committee next Wednesday and I will be taking up their invitation," Jim Anderton said.

ENDS

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