Council toughens up on drug retailers

March 4, 2014

Waipa District Council has been as tough as it can on local retailers wanting to sell psychoactive substances in its district.

Council heard submissions today on its draft psychoactive substances policy which covers the sale of the drugs (also known as legal highs.) By law, Councils cannot ban the sale of the drugs, limit the number of premises selling them or say what hours shops can open. But it can restrict the locations they are sold from.

More than 70 submissions on the policy were received and Mayor Jim Mylchreest said the message was overwhelming.

Councillors have been left in absolutely no doubt about what Waipa people think of legal highs and of the people who sell them, he said. The message was very clear. If you can't ban them - and by law Council can't - then let's at least make it as tough as we can for them to operate in our district.

As a result of community feedback, Councillors added marae, pharmacies and medical centres to the list of sensitive sites that retailers will not be allowed within 100 metres of. Bus stops are already covered by the policy.

Councillors also decided retailers would not be allowed within 500 metres of each other, up from the 300 metres originally proposed. As a result of that change, it is likely there could only be room for one retailer in Cambridge and one in Te Awamutu. The policy means retail stores could not be opened at all in Pirongia, Ohaupo, Leamington or Kihikihi.

Already by law, the drugs cannot be sold from dairies, supermarkets, service stations or liquor outlets and cannot be sold to anyone under 18.

There is currently just one retailer licenced to sell legal highs in the Waipa district, operating from Te Awamutu. Under this new policy, the store would not comply and would be likely to have its licence suspended immediately by the Psychoactive Substances Regulatory Authority.

The policy is likely to be formally adopted by the Council at its full council meeting in late March.

ends

For more information contact:

Jeanette Tyrrell (on behalf of Council) 027 5077 599