Media Release

18 July 2013

Further Restrictions on Psychoactive Substances Supported by Local Boards

The Psychoactive Substances Act comes into force today, but the Manurewa and Papakura Local Boards have called for further restrictions on these substances. 

Under the new legislation councils are given the ability to create Local Approved Products Policies, and Manurewa Local Board Member Simeon Brown is leading the charge for Auckland Council to urgently adopt one of these policies.

"Essentially a Local Approved Products Policy will allow Auckland Council to give Local Boards the ability to restrict where any future psychoactive substances can be sold." Says Manurewa Local Board Member Simeon Brown. 

"This is about allowing Local Boards to be able to protect sensitive sites such as Schools, Kindergartens, Churches and Community halls from being near the sale of any drugs which might be approved under this new Act.

"Essentially psychoactive substances will be able to be sold if they pass the tests in the Act. This is a huge concern to me, and both the Manurewa Local Board and Papakura Local Board are backing my call for a 1km radius ban on the sale of these drugs around these sensitive sites. Both boards have supported a motion to this effect over the past week. 

"This is about recognising that we need to protect our young people, and our communities from these drugs. We should be doing all we can to stop the sale of these products. We should not be promoting a culture of drugs where some are deemed 'ok' for consumption just because they are legal and approved under this new legislation. 

"We have a window of opportunity to put this policy in place before the market reacts with new drugs which meet the tests under the Act. That is why I am calling for Auckland Council to urgently adopt this policy." Mr Brown says. 

Simeon Brown will be visiting Waitakere, Orakei, Whau, Hibiscus and Bays, and Maungakiekie Local Boards over coming weeks showing a strong interest in this policy from across Auckland. 

ENDS

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