Ban on party pills may fuel P use, warns retailer

By Abi Thomas and NZPA
A Whangarei seller of party pills reckons banning them will only benefit P dealers.
The Government is to ban BZP, the main ingredient in party pills, by the end of the year. Also known as "herbal highs" despite their chemical makeup, they will be classified as a Class C1 drug, the same as cannabis.
Patrick Shepheard, of House of Fun in The Strand, said some regular customers told him they would go back to P if party pills were pulled.
People used them as a safer alternative to harder drugs. They might pop a couple of pills if they were the sober driver at parties, he said.
"They're only dangerous if they're mixed with alcohol or if you take too many."
Mr Shepheard said there was no proof they were additive.
He had tried them.
"If you have too many, you just feel sick, like if you have too much chocolate. I can't even stomach them now," he said.
About a quarter of the shop's income comes from selling the pills, but a ban would not hurt his business for long.
"Sure, my pocket will take a hit for a little while but we'll just make it up elsewhere. We've been in business for 23 years so I'm not too worried."
Meanwhile, the doctor behind a major study of party pill use said the ban yesterday's was "a tough call" but on balance was probably the right one.
The study by Chris Wilkins, from Massey's Centre for Social and Health Outcomes, was published last year and cited by both supporters and opponents of a ban to back their arguments.
Dr Wilkins said there had been no research on the long-term effects of BZP or the role it could play in psychological illness.
"Consequently, there was a strong case for stricter regulation of the use and sale of party pills. On balance, a ban appears to be the low-risk decision," he said.
Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton said yesterday the Cabinet had agreed to his recommendation to prepare legislation to ban the manufacture, supply, sale, export or import of BZP-based products.
The maximum penalty for anyone supplying or making a Class C1 drug is eight years in prison. Possession is punished by up to three months' jail and or a $500 fine.
BZP is already banned in Australia, the US, Japan, Denmark, Greece and Sweden.