February 25, 2015
Ngati Whatua fights drug sales
Ngati Whatua’s public health unit is pushing for tight controls on the sale of psychoactive drugs in Tamaki Makaurau.
Auckland Council is hearing submissions in Henderson this Friday on its local approved products policy.
Runanga Maori public health advocate Antony Thompson says if the drugs are deemed safe by the government, the policy will set out the rules for where they can be sold.
He says a year after what was a very public campaign against synthetic marijuana and other drugs, there is still very little information about their effects.
He says whanau are putting chemicals in their bodies with no idea what they are and no idea what long-term effects they will have.
Mr Thompson says his organisation’s surveys at Polyfest and other events showed communities don’t want such drugs sold around schools, medical centres, addiction services and areas of high deprivation.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com