Turner: Horse Bolted on BZP

United Future MP Judy Turner is disappointed by the performance of the Associate Health Minister and the Expert Advisory Committee in taking so long to take action over the use of BZP in New Zealand.

“It is my worry that the intention to protect people’s health and wellbeing will not be fulfilled by illegalising the substance so long after it has become established in our society,” said Mrs Turner

“At this stage I would like to seriously question the credibility of the Expert Advisory Committee who has allowed this horse to bolt and now want to re-capture it. This is going to be hugely difficult and I am stunned that they have been so dismissive of previous concerns, previous calls for at least regulations similar to over the counter medicines, and now have retrospectively decided that the risks are significant enough to have these products classified under the Misuse of Drugs Act.”

“How on earth are we going to have any confidence in their future recommendations on newly developed social tonics.”

“I can see two things happening over the medium to long term. Firstly, BZP will be driven underground and thus will have to compete with other black-market drugs inevitably raising the levels of dosage and putting users at greater risk. Secondly, a vacuum will be created by the banning of BZP, which will inevitably be filled by another ‘legal high’ with a different chemical composition.”

“While I do not want to sound like I support the over-the-counter sale of BZP, I believe that the industry is so big now that instituting a ban at this late stage will have little to no effect on its uptake compared to a regime of tight regulation,” concluded Mrs Turner

ENDS

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