From midnight tonight, it will be illegal to sell, possess and supply psychoactive substances.
The Government last night passed the Psychoactive Substances Amendment Act that will become law from Thursday, May 8.
It removes all remaining psychoactive products, including synthetic cannabis, from the market and bans the use of animal testing in support of product approvals.
When the Psychoactive Substances Act was passed last year, some products were allowed to stay on the market.
Health Minister Tony Ryall says the amendment means all interim retail and wholesale licences will be cancelled and all 41 psychoactive products given interim approval will be removed from sale. It will also become illegal to possess and supply the products.
From midnight all psychoactive products will become unapproved and it will be an offence to possess, supply or sell them.
Those in possession of products are advised to return them to the retailer they purchased them from.
SunLive went to the streets and asked Tauranga residents what they think will happen to legal highs after the ban.
This is what they had to say.
4 comments
wonderful
Posted on 07-05-2014 09:43 | By maggie571
now all that we need to do is get rid of those fancy can mixed drinks
I'd like to think it will solve a problem
Posted on 07-05-2014 10:42 | By Annalist
But I've a feeling it won't and what is likely to happen is that these highs will be sold from clandestine houses just like other terrible drugs. Those selling them will pocket the tax free profits and probably claim a benefit at the same time. If caught they will be slapped with a "severe" community service or home detention sentence. Meantime the actual quantity of these highs being sold and consumed will actually increase. Let's hope I'm wrong.
Ban
Posted on 07-05-2014 12:37 | By Raewyn
They should never been allowed for sale in the first place and anybody that sells them should be the ones made as the guinea pigs to trail such things, it would be interesting to see if they put their own health at risk!
Finally -Common Sense
Posted on 07-05-2014 12:44 | By carpedeum
a good resolution by the Government. The Greens are showing their true colours again by not voting to support this bill!!! Would like to suggest that Gvt ask for volunteers- who do wish to smoke this stuff - to offer themselves for testing- of course - that would have to exclude any hospital treatment required- our Health Dollars are too precious to waste.
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