New Zealand may allow sale of some psychoactive drugs

[deltasigma]

The proposed Psychoactive Substances Bill would permit the legal sale of compounds if they could be shown to have a low risk of harm.

Psychonauts rejoice. A parliamentary committee in New Zealand published a whopping 107 page appeal this week for the country to adopt new laws that would permit manufacturers to legally sell any psychoactive substance (including synthetic and designer drugs that are yet to be developed) if they can prove that it has a “low risk of harm.” The new laws are expected to come into effect in August when a temporary drug law that banned unsafe products expires.

The legislation states that “the primary purpose of this bill is to regulate the availability of psychoactive substances in New Zealand and protect the health and minimize the harm to individuals who use psychoactive substances.” These laws could be game-changing in both the synthetic drug community, as well as international substance regulation. Maybe it’s time to make a trip down to New Zealand and get a chance to see some hobbits with a little help from products sold at the local bodega.

Given what an abysmal failure the ‘war on drugs’ has been, this looks to be a rational alternative. Thoughts?

[lisiate]

How many sellers of paychoactive substances are going to pay to do the trials needed to show their products have a low risk of harm?

In fact the PSB is actually a step towards more regulation of these substances - before a year or so ago party pills (excluding the long prohibited favourites) were legal in New Zealand with no testing required. A few high profile ODs and a panic campaign later and now we have this.

[deltasigma]

@lisiate

How many sellers of paychoactive substances are going to pay to do the trials needed to show their products have a low risk of harm?

It’s not clear how onerous that would be. I get the feeling it’s not going to be anything approaching US stage I,II and III drug trials though just based on this quote, but you sound like you have a better sense of things.

The bill does not “prescribe any design or testing stage,” but states that the term “low risk” will be determined by the Expert Technical Committee through a four process saftey testing regime, including manufacturing and controls information, preclinical toxicology studies, human clinical studies, and post-registration studies.

In other words, the committee is noting that testing will be administered, but it will not regulate the ethics of any testing process. Additionally, no animals will be tested when determining the risk of these chemicals.

[sisu]

This is a good way to “ban” the glut of designer drugs coming into the market. Smart drug companies are changing small components of a banned drug and bam we now have a drug not on the banned list.

This IMO is squarely aimed at stopping Kronic, Bath Salts etc from coming into the market, at the moment it’s too easy to bring them in.

[deltasigma]

@sisu

This is a good way to “ban” the glut of designer drugs coming into the market. Smart drug companies are changing small components of a banned drug and bam we now have a drug not on the banned list.

This IMO is squarely aimed at stopping Kronic, Bath Salts etc from coming into the market, at the moment it’s too easy to bring them in.

I haven’t followed this sort of thing in a long time but in the US, we passed a law that tried to get around the problem by including analogs of drug on the controlled list. The problem I think is defining exactly what constitutes an analog.

For example the PEA that you find in chocolate and is the basis for all amphetamines IIRC is technically an “analog” in the broadest sense, but you can’t really make it illegal

[lisiate]

@sisu

This is a good way to “ban” the glut of designer drugs coming into the market. Smart drug companies are changing small components of a banned drug and bam we now have a drug not on the banned list.

This IMO is squarely aimed at stopping Kronic, Bath Salts etc from coming into the market, at the moment it’s too easy to bring them in.

Yes, Kronic was one of the products that was targeted by the initial ban.

Essentially New Zealand is moving from ‘everything that is not prohibited is legal’ to ‘everything that can’t be shown (by way of a specified testing protocol) to have minimal harm is illegal’ approach.

[alphaboi867]

I assume alcohol, tobacco, & caffeine get grandfathered in?

[lisiate]

Totally. along with Kava no doubt.

[sisu]

@lisiate

Yes, Kronic was one of the products that was targeted by the initial ban.

Essentially New Zealand is moving from ‘everything that is not prohibited is legal’ to ‘everything that can’t be shown (by way of a specified testing protocol) to have minimal harm is illegal’ approach.

Very much like the WADA code on drugs, they have a prohibited list but a cacth all phrase saying if it isn’t approved then it’s not allowed.

[Ranchoth]

…I guess the Halfling Leaf lobby is finally getting a foothold.