Psychoactive Substances Policy

Council will be developing a policy on psychoactive substances (called a Local Approved Products Policy).

"As much as we as a Council would like to ban these substances entirely, we can't," said Mayor Neil Sinclair. "They are legal under the Act. In addition, our jurisdiction relates to outlet location only."

Council held a workshop recently to discuss the control of psychoactive substances related to the location of outlets, which under the Act is the only part that councils have jurisdiction over. It must be remembered that it is the Ministry of Health (MoH) that approves licenses, not councils.

"Council has decided to progress a policy (called a Local Approved Products Policy). Staff were given direction by Councillors based on the discussion," continued Mayor Sinclair. "Representatives from the Police and District Health Board were present at the workshop to provide detail and answer questions. The key question facing Council is where these outlets should be located. We can do this by specifying an area where outlets may establish or by using buffer zones from sensitive sites. Both options have advantages and disadvantages, all of which will be detailed in public consultation documents."

Other points discussed were around the work done by Hamilton City Council, the closures that the MoH imposed, a watch and wait on the legal precedent/fallout on this issue, where outlets should be located (CBD, outlying areas), among many other points. Once Council has approved the draft policy, it will go out to the community for public consultation. Please engage in this process. It is imperative that the community provide Council with a direction and support.

Following the temporary closure of outlets in Hamilton there has been an increase in the number of people frequenting outlets in the nearby town of Te Awamutu. With Cambridge also close to adopting its policy, Council is mindful that the same increase could be seen in Tokoroa. ends words: 314