‘Knowledge is power' and the Thames-Coromandel District Council wants to make sure communities throughout the district have access to both.

Council is hosting a series of public meetings about the sale of products containing psychoactive substances, an ingredient in ‘legal highs', which could be making a return to the Coromandel.

A public meeting regarding psychoactive substances, used to make legal highs, took place at the Whangamata Hall on Thursday night. Photo: File

The next meeting will take place at the Thames High School on Monday, from 5.30pm.

The series of meetings began in Whitianga last Tuesday and while there was a small turnout, TCDC deputy mayor Peter French says it went very well.

'I think the main thrust of the locals' issues were their concerns about the national legislation which could allow approved products back on sale again.

'We can't ban the sale of these substances, but we can regulate where they are sold under the Psychoactive Products Retail Location Policy, which is what we want to work with the community on.

'But the meeting went really well and council's staff certainly helped to explain the bylaw to people and they really seemed to grasp it.”

This month it was announced that approved products containing psychoactive substance would soon be allowed for sale nationwide, under The Psychoactive Substances Act 2013.

This will allow retailers to seek a license from the Ministry of Health's Licensing Authority to sell approved psychoactive products.

While those licenses are not issued by the TCDC, it does have some say on where products can be sold under its draft Psychoactive Product Retail Location Policy.

For example: psychoactive substances could be limited to certain areas within the district's main towns, while being restricted from places like schools, places of worship and community facilities.

Peter says prior to products containing psychoactive products being withdrawn from shelves around the country there were only two retail outlets selling them in the district.

'Both were in Thames and from a council position there weren't any major problems that we were aware, but Thames Police would probably have a better understanding.

'The TCDC is yet to formalise its position on the return of psychoactive products, though I can certainly imagine that councillors and staff would have formed their own opinions.”

For Peter, he is concerned about the possibility of legal highs returning to the market.

He adds: 'We have enough problems with alcohol and cigarettes so we don't need any more products that could create problems for vulnerable people.”

Peter hopes that interested locals will head along to the public meeting to work with council on the matter.

He believes that for a lot of people in the community it would be a matter of clarifying what the council can do in terms of the national legislation.

'We want people to engage in the process, understand what the [national] legislation and the [TCDC] policy are saying, and give us there views.

'Because at the end of the day the policy will reflect what the community wants and thinks is desirable for our district.”

Public meetings are being held at:

• Whangamata: Town Hall, Thursday, February 19, from 5:30pm
• Thames: Thames High School, Monday, February 23, from 5:30pm

To read the Thames Coromandel District Council's proposed policy and to make a submission click here. Submissions close Monday, March 9, at 4pm.

What are your thoughts on legal highs being available for sale in Coromandel? Post your comments below.

Thames-Coromandel District Council deputy mayor Peter French