COUNCILLOR CRACKS DOWN ON DRUGS

New Manukau city councillor Daniel Newman has told Parliament's health
select committee there should be zero tolerance for party pills.

Mr Newman and fellow Manurewa Action Team members want an amendment to
remove an amnesty provision in the Misuse of Drugs (Classification of
BZP) Amendment Bill being considered by Parliament.

The bill seeks to ban benzylpiperazine, phenylpiperazine and related
substances which are the active ingredients of most party pills.

It would classify party bills as class C1 drugs meaning anyone
supplying, manufacturing and exporting the products will be liable to
a maximum of three months prison and-or up to a $500 fine.

The submission to the select committee by the Manurewa Action Team
supports the passage of the bill into law, citing health and harm risks.

But Mr Newman and his ticket oppose a clause which provides for a
six-month amnesty after the law comes into force, during which time it
would not be an offence to possess for personal use less than 5 grams
or 100 flakes, tablets, capsules, or other drug forms each containing
some quantity of the drug.

A zero tolerance approach needs to start the day the law receives
Royal Assent, not six months down the track, Mr Newman says.

"An amnesty provision is unnecessary and sends mixed messages to
people who need to know that it's not acceptable to possess those
particular types of drugs."

In September the Manukau District Licensing Agency announced it would
ask retailers in its area to remove party pills from their shelves or
face losing their liquor licences.

That followed a Liquor Licensing Authority judgement concerning
Roscommon Liquor in Manurewa which wanted to sell alcohol and party
pills from the same outlet.

Mr Newman and Angela Dalton campaigned against Roscommon Liquor's
proposal.

Ms Dalton was recently elected to the Manurewa Community
Board.

The bill, introduced to Parliament by associate health minister Jim
Anderton, passed its first reading in September by 113 votes to 8,
with the Green Party and ACT MPs opposed.

It is also opposed by the Social Tonics Association. Bill of Rights
Act concerns have been raised about some of the bill.

The select committee has to report back by November 15.