Psychoactive Substances Policy goes ahead

South Waikato District Council has pressed on with developing a policy around the sale of legal highs despite the recent Government decision to cease the sale of synthetic drugs.

"Council's Draft LAPP (Local Approved Products Policy) is currently open for public consultation and our community is encouraged to make a submission," said Alan Moss, Council's Planning Manager who is managing the psychoactive substances policy development process.

"We welcome the Government's recent action," said Mayor Sinclair. "However we are mindful that this decision may not mean legal highs will be forever unavailable for public sale and our Council has to be able to control where outlets selling any of these products are located. For this reason we have decided to continue with our policy which is currently open for public consultation."

Under the current legislation, the LAPP gives Council the ability to influence where retailers selling psychoactive substances can be located and how far away from sensitive sites and each other those outlets can be. The legislation does not allow the LAPP to dictate any other aspect of the trade, such as opening hours.

ends words: 183