FIRST CONVICTION FOR BZP SUPPLY

A Christchurch man is the first New Zealander to be convicted for
illegally supplying BZP, after the party pill was reclassified as a
restricted substance.

In the Christchurch District Court, Shane Tristan Capstick admitted
two charges of supplying a restricted substance, BZP, to a person
aged under 18.

Capstick was fined $350 on each charge, which carries a maximum
penalty of a $2000 fine.

It is the first conviction of the type in a prosecution brought by
the Ministry of Health under the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act 2005,
in which BZP was classified as a class C drug, bringing it in line
with cannabis.

In March, a North Canterbury woman was charged similarly, but got
police diversion on a charge of supplying BZP pills to a girl aged under 18.

Otago MP Jacqui Dean launched a private member's bill in April to ban
the manufacture, sale and possession of BZP.

Dean said one of her concerns was that because BZP mimicked the
effects of harder drugs it could lead users on to them. Associate
Health Minister Jim Anderton has also moved to ban BZP.

The group representing party pill retailers, the Social Tonics
Association, claims BZP provides a safer alternative to illicit
drugs, but yesterday said it welcomed the prosecution.

Its chairman, Matt Bowden, said it showed putting regulations in
place did work, as long as the law was enforced.

He claimed party pills were a safer alternative to hard drugs and
alcohol, but they were for adults, not children.

The association wanted them sold only to people over 18, and wanted
advertising where children could see it made illegal, Bowden said.

Health authorities have regarded the mixture of BZP and alcohol as
especially dangerous, because it can lead to loss of control,
including memory loss.

The active ingredient is benzylpiperazine. Its adverse effects
include psychosis, renal toxicity and seizures.