FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dunne Makes Right Decision on Synthetic Cannabis

Matt Bowden, co-founder of Stargate International, is delighted by the announcement of Associate Minister of Health, Hon Peter Dunne, that cannabinomimetics, or synthetic cannabis, are to be made a restricted substance under the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act 2005.

Although the risk of harm from cannabinomimetics is relatively low, Mr Bowden supports the decision to place restrictions on their sale. “Minister Dunne has made the right call by moving to prevent the sale of cannabinomimetics to those under 18. I am also pleased to see that the advertisement, packaging and sale of cannabinomimetics will be regulated to protect the public.

Cannabinomimetics are exactly the sort of low-risk product for which the restricted substances category was designed.”

Mr Bowden said that many New Zealanders from different cultures enjoy the responsible use of substances other than alcohol.

“Criminalising those New Zealanders would have been discriminatory,” Mr Bowden said. “It is both fair and in the interests of public health that cannabinomimetics and alcohol are regulated in a similar way.

“This is a move away from prohibition, and towards an evidence-based drug policy.”

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On The Government's Assault On Maori

This isn’t news, but the National-led coalition is mounting a sustained assault on Treaty rights and obligations. Audrey Young in the NZ Herald has compiled a useful list of the many ways Christopher Luxon plans to roll back the progress made in race relations over the past forty years. He has described yesterday’s nationwide protests by Maori as “pretty unfair.” Poor thing. More