Backlash at legal highs

Legals highs should not be sold in the community, says locals in Central Hawke's Bay

Everyone is "dead against" the prospect of legal highs being sold in Central Hawke's Bay.

The district council is considering submissions on the Draft Local Approved Products Policy (LAPP).

The Psychoactive Substances Act 2013 allows councils to develop LAPPs, which may restrict the location that psychoactive substances may be sold from within their territorial areas.

While the act may allow for it, only the Hawke's Bay District Health Board (DHB) has voiced its support for the policy, with 90 submissions saying no.

CHB Mayor Peter Butler said the hearing was not the result of an application to open a business to sell psychoactive substances, or legal highs, but rather it was just the council going through due process.

"No one has applied, there is not even a rumour going around," he said.

"It is just setting the rules and standards, that's all. Every man and his dog in the council is dead against it and we would far rather see the whole thing disappear off the face of the earth with the people that make it."

It seems that many people in Waipukurau would agree, with most submitters not wanting the legal highs anywhere near their businesses.

"Do not allow psychoactive substances to be sold in the main street," Colleen Carrick voiced in her submission.

"No! No! No! No! No!" said the owner of a jewellery store, who also made the point there was an institutional classroom in the group of retail businesses, close to the proposed site of any potential business venture.

Resident Gerard Minehan said Waipukurau Primary School was less than 100 metres from where the proposed locations for "sale of psychoactive substances" sites were planned.

The sole voice of support has come from the Dr Caroline McElnay at the DHB.

"We believe that by ensuring your council has a policy in place prior to the soon to be released Psychoactive Substances Regulations will enable your community to decide on where best psychoactive substances retailers should be located," she said.