Greens welcome new drug report

The Law Commission’s report on Controlling and Regulating Drugs will lead to better health and social outcomes, if adopted, Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said today.

The report released today seeks to reduce the harm caused by drugs by proposing a more holistic legislative framework for regulating drugs — one that is more in line with the National Drug Policy.

“Current drug law is 35 years out-of-date and is hurting our families,” said Mrs Turei.

“Too many resources are directed into criminalising people rather than providing them with the medical help they most need.

“The Law Commission’s report recognises this and seeks to redress it by adopting a harm reduction approach for dealing with personal drug use by adults.

“This new approach, if adopted, will actually save money enabling greater resources to be directed into health services for breaking the cycle of drug abuse and addiction. It will also free police to tackle more serious crime.”

Mrs Turei welcomed the Commission's recognition of the dangers of new manufactured psychoactive substances, commonly known as ‘party pills’ and sold legally under New Zealand’s current law. Right now, restrictions on sale can only be imposed after the fact, once sufficient evidence exists of the level of risk to users.

“By requiring prior approval of new synthetic drug products, we’ll shift the burden of proof onto manufacturers to demonstrate that their products are safe,” said Mrs Turei.

“Rigorous standards and testing from a proposed new regulatory authority would help limit the risk of new drugs to society.

“Tellingly, its unlikely tobacco would pass such tests.

The Green Party are urging the Government to implement flexible new policy and law changes in light of the Commission’s recommendations.

“The Commission have made a thorough, proportionate, and just response to drug reform in New Zealand. By recognising that drug use is primarily a health and social issue, we have moved closer to solving the problem,” Mrs Turei said.

“We can reduce a great amount of drug-related harm in our communities and save valuable resources for more productive ends.”


Link to report:
http://www.lawcom.govt.nz/project/review-misuse-drugs-act-1975?quicktabs_23=report#node-2079