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ALCP: Dunne can ban any substance without evidence

Peter Dunne is being granted unprecedented power to ban any substance.

He made the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs (EACD) redundant in a move that flys in the face of Law Commission recommendations.

The Government was due to respond to the Law Commission's report into the Misuse of Drugs Act shortly but Dunne's newly acquired powers entrench prohibitionist values, destroying the move towards evidence based drug policy in New Zealand.

"It is a sad day when politicians have more say on drug policy than scientists," ALCP Leader Michael Appleby said.

"The EACD recommend Kronic remain legally available for adults but their recommendations were ignored by the minister."

None of Dunne's new powers nor the decision to ban Kronic were subject to public submissions as a supplementary order paper was added to the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill before its third reading.

Component parts of pipes and bongs were also banned by the Bill.

ENDS

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