May 06, 2014
MPs shut smoke shops
Manurewa MP Louisa Wall says the passing of a bill banning previously legal highs is a victory for all those who fought to get them removed from their communities.
The Psychoactive Substances Amendment Bill was passed under urgency yesterday and will receive the royal assent today and come into force at midnight.
The bill bans 41 products which were given interim approval under legislation passed last year.
Ms Wall, who campaigned against a legal highs shop in the main Manurewa shopping area, says the bill means producers will have to prove their products are safe before they can be sold.
"I want to commend in Manurewa the Warriors of Change, the Manurewa local board, our community leaders, many of the people who work within this area, and obviously a huge concern for many in the community are the consequences of these substances not being available, so we will have addiction issues and we have to make sure the appropriate treatments are available for people who are coming off these highs," she says.
The Greens abstained from the vote because they believe the bill was not evidence based, as the number of outlets has dropped dramatically since the new regime came into force last July sales were down and harm was reduced.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH LOUISA WALL CLICK ON THE LINK
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