R18 LIMIT ON 'LEGAL HIGHS' WELCOMED

Retailers are welcoming a move to restrict the sale of "legal highs",
which mimic the effects of cannabis, to people aged over 18.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne said yesterday that he had
accepted the recommendations of an expert advisory committee to limit
the sales of products such as Spice, Kronic, Aroma and Dream, which
can be bought legally at dairies and convenience stores, as well as
online.

Known widely as "herbal smoking blends", they contain vegetable matter
treated with synthetic cannabinomimetic substances. When smoked they
give psychoactive effects similar to those from cannabis.

"I am putting traders in these products on notice that it is
irresponsible to market, sell or offer to sell to anyone under the age
of 18," Mr Dunne said.

Chris Fowlie, manager of the Hemp Store in Auckland, which sells a
cannabinoid product called Space, said retailers would welcome the
announcement.

"We support the product being R18. It is a product which is smoked,
and all things that are smoked should be R18. It is totally legal
under current law.

"We have called for cannabinoid products to be R18 restricted for 10
years now. That is how long it has taken Peter Dunne to listen.

"This is not a ban ... we can still sell our products, but just not to
kids and that is great."

Regular smoker Blair Anderson also welcomed Mr Dunne's announcement.
"An R18 is a perfectly logical thing to do. This represents a very
progressive change. There are states in the USA that are banning this
stuff."

Mr Anderson, of Christchurch, likened smoking a "legal high" cigarette
to having a glass of wine. "It is the perfect social drug."