PARTY PILLS TO BE BANNED IN NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand's government has decided to outlaw party pills containing
amphetamine-like drugs that have been on sale in the country.

The pills, containing benzylpiperazine (BZP) or
triflouro-methyl-phenylpiperazine
(TFMPP), have long been legal in New Zealand but in 2005 the
government added restrictions to make them only available to people
aged over 18.

The sale of the pills was reportedly allowed to counter the growing
number of people taking illegal amphetamines and an associated rise in
violence.

But New Zealand Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton on Thursday
said a cabinet meeting had backed his recommendation to ban the pills.

"Cabinet was mindful that these products have been legally available
for some years and, while wanting to stop both their manufacture and
sale as a matter of urgency, did not wish to immediately criminalise
those who may still have some of these substances in their possession
for personal use," Anderton said in a statement.

He said once the laws were passed, anyone caught supplying,
manufacturing or exporting the pills would face a penalty of up to
eight years imprisonment.

Those caught in possession of the pills could be imprisoned for up to
three months and fined up to $NZ500 ($A450).

BZP is prohibited in Australia and the United States, but is readily
available in many other countries including the United Kingdom and
Canada.

The drug is said to give users a high similar to ecstasy, especially
when combined with TFMPP, and is non-addictive. TFMPP is also a
prohibited substance in Australia.

The new laws are expected to be passed by the New Zealand parliament
before the end of this year, Anderton said.

Matt Bowden from the Social Tonics Association of New Zealand said 20
per cent of New Zealanders had tried the party pills and there had
been no deaths reported.

Bowden, whose company Stargate International produces some of the
pills, said Thursday's decision was a setback.

"It is a step backwards really. We had an opportunity to progress a
drugs policy to a point where it was the safest and most advanced in
the world," Bowden said.

"We need to look for options other than drug prohibition because
prohibition has failed us, but it is difficult for a country to turn
its back on years and years of misinformation," he said.