Overwhelming opposition to the sale of synthetic cannabis in Katikati has seen almost all adult residents support giving councils the power to ban psychoactive substances shops.
Lloyd Elliot, 87, organised the campaign which asked people whether they supported the status quo of permitting licensed shops to sell synthetic cannabis or the alternative to put the licensing power in the hands of councils, including the right to ban sales altogether.
He said he was delighted with the response in which nearly 1953 people supported local authorities taking charge and ending the situation in which they could not impose an outright ban on the sale of psychoactive substances.
In a separate petition by Katikati resident Anne Bowling, 1500 people from the town and surrounding districts have supported banning synthetic cannabis from the northern 400m hub of the town centre from Uretara Bridge to Jocelyn St. It also asked that no shops be allowed within a 100m radius of schools, child care centres, churches and health centres.
She said the introduction of a psychoactive substances shop into the main street would be "an absolute travesty". There was no area in the CBD where the existence of a legal-high outlet would not threaten the sense of security and wellbeing of residents and put at risk the town's charm as a destination.
Mr Elliot said the petitions represented "a clear mandate from locals". Katikati had 2100 residents aged over 18 and he could not recall seeing anyone tick the status quo option.
The referendums will be presented at next Monday's public hearing on the Western Bay of Plenty District Council's proposed psychoactive substances policy. The draft policy restricts the location of premises selling synthetic cannabis to the Te Puke and Katikati CBDs between 9am and 5pm Monday to Saturday. Shops can be no closer than 750m from each other and 100m from education facilities, libraries and medical centres.
Another petition has been lodged with the council by the owner of the Bamboo Barn which sells psychoactive substances off Katikati's main street. Hilliena Stone said she opposed the selling of psychoactive substances in the town's main CBD because it was a small family-orientated area.
She gathered 176 signatures from Katikati, Waihi and Tauranga for her petition which asked the council to agree to permit her to continue retailing as a licensed retailer.
Another petition organised by Katikati Community Baptist Church attracted 73 signatures. The accompanying submission said the so-called harmless drug may not be so harmless when it ripped apart families.
"Reports are coming in that some of these substances are more potent than cannabis."