New Zealand's BZP 'problem'

Do you ever listen to drug debates in other countries and wonder what is going on? In New Zealand there's a current row over banning BZP and piperizine party pills sold over the counter. Coming to the defense of these party pills is none other than the Green party, which claims there's not enough evidence to regulate these substances as harmful, which has in turn brought the wrath of government flack Jim Anderton. From a recent Jim Anderton press release carried at Scoop:

“The Greens and others say they believe all drug policy should be based on evidence, well hello, we’ve got the evidence to ban BZP.

“But now they say – it’s not enough evidence, even though New Zealand now has probably one of the most substantial bodies of research on BZP in the world. Not only that, but the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs found there was enough to support a ban.

“They said there was clear evidence that regulation was not adequate to deal with the threat posed by party pills, and there was an opportunity to reduce that risk by banning them.

“We must take a precautionary approach. We have enough harmful legal drugs to control by regulation already. Alcohol and tobacco cause far more harm than any other drugs in New Zealand… why add another?”

“BZP was first introduced into this country as a dietary supplement (or complementary medicine by another name) and we all know where the Greens stand on complementary medicines – no or very little regulation and have opposed this government’s legislation to clean up this area all the way. This is probably their real position on BZP party pills as well -I say the Greens should come clean.”

Yeah Greens, come clean. You all want government deregulation of recreational drugs and complimentary medicines, don't you!? Oh wait, that's right, you do (don't you?). I get confused sometimes. Party pill politics hurts my head.