Editorial: 'Highs' are still causing concern

I mistakenly thought the introduction of tough new rules for the synthetic cannabis industry would quell the growing controversy around the sale of these products.

It appears not to be the case.

A Bay of Plenty MP is asking health authorities and police to investigate a Tauranga store selling synthetic drugs, just blocks away from a school.

The store, Asylum, is on Cameron Rd, between 11th and 12th Ave.

This week, three Bay of Plenty Times staff members visited the store. Two were offered synthetic cannabis products, including Karma, Apocalypse and Anarchy, at a price of $20 each.

The third staff member specifically asked for synthetic cannabis and various products were recommended.

As of July 18, the sale of synthetic cannabis and party pill products in dairies, convenience and grocery stores, supermarkets, service station and liquor outlets was banned.

Outlets now need to have a licence to sell synthetic drugs, it is also illegal to sell products to those under the age of 18.

The owner of the store could not be contacted for comment but, before the store opened, a man who claimed to be the proprietor told the Bay of Plenty Times on July 19 the store was not designed to sell synthetic drugs: "We are everything tobacco related."

Understandably, Tauranga Boys' College principal Robert Mangan is concerned about the store's proximity to his school, while Associate Minister of Health Todd McClay has promised a crackdown if the store is breaching any rules.

It has been an uphill battle for legislators trying to regulate an industry that is quick to adapt to any changes but, as this paper has noted before, there is little chance those in the industry will be able to skirt around the new regime requiring makers to prove their products are safe before they can be put on the market.

The Ministry of Health has estimated that the array of testing of a product to fulfil the onus of safety could cost the manufacturer about $1 million to $2 million and each clinical trial could take up to two years.

Hopefully this cost will drive many out of the industry.