Associate Minister of Health Peter Dunne announced the Psychoactive Substances Bill Committee on Friday 17 May. The committee is to be chaired by Otago University Associate Professor of Medicine Richard Robson, and has been put in place to determine a safety testing regime for “legal high” products.
The Committee has been created following recent criticism over the safety of psychoactive substances such as K2 and other synthetic cannabis products that were readily available for purchase at dairies. The side effects of these substances were deemed to induce “animal-like” behaviour in their consumers and lead to depression and anxiety.
A spokesman for Dunne stated that “the make-up of the Committee was based on Health Ministry recommendations.” It includes professors in pharmacology, forensic toxicology experts, and the executive director of the SPCA, Bob Kerridge. While the Committee’s method of testing is yet to be determined, the involvement of Kerridge leads Critic to speculate that the new testing system could involve animal testing of the products.
“Safety testing will ultimately be done on any product that manufacturers wish to bring to market under the new legislation,” the spokesman for Dunne said. “They will have to submit that product and it will go through the testing process – at their cost.”
The availability of products will be significantly reduced, along with the potential harm they will cause. “Consumers will know that the products they are getting will be low risk. They do not know that today under the current regime,” the spokesman added.
The safety testing process will be decided by August when the Psychoactive Substances Bill legislation comes into force.
Psychoactive Substances Bill Committee named
