In 2004 Mr Anderton asked the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs (EACD) to review recent New Zealand research on benzylpiperazine (BZP), the main ingredient in most party pills. The official EACD report was released by Mr Anderton on 20 December 2006. It recommended BZP be classified as C1 under the Misuse of Drugs Act alongside drugs such as cannabis. It is illegal to possess or sell Class C drugs.
This paper summarises recent research findings on BZP/party pills, and outlines the current legislative status of BZP. It is being made available to assist organisations or people wanting to make submissions on the proposal to reclassify BZP and its analogues.
We appreciate the Select Committee’s decision to fully consider this Supplementary Order Paper and call for submissions. The SOP contains major proposals, and has impacts on the future regulation of emerging drugs, which deserve such a considered process.
In general, we support the provisions of the Bill. We have organised our comments around specific topics - improving processes for managing classification of drugs, presumption of supply, and alterations to current legislation on possession of needles and syringes - rather than presenting them clause-by-clause. We have not commented on proposals about border control and controlled delivery operations.
The New Zealand Drug Foundation believes that the status quo in terms of cannabis harm reduction policy in New Zealand is unacceptable. The Foundation has considered the health and well being of the whole population as well as vulnerable groups in relation to cannabis usage.
