Ecstasy copycat sales stopped

Sales of party pills that mimic the effects of the drug Ecstasy were suspended yesterday after tests showed the pills were almost certainly illegal.

But producers of a television show say it wasn't until they commissioned independent testing of the drug that any action was taken.

The party pills with the "Ease" brand have been sold since last year under the guise of so-called "clinical trials" run by a company called Stargate International.

After signing up for the trials, prospective buyers watch a "safety video" and are told their reaction to the drug would be part of further research.

Yesterday, Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton said advice from the chair of the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, showed Ease contained a substance called called methylone, an "analogue" - similar to - cathinone, which is a Class B amphetamine controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

"On this basis, the so-called clinical trial being conducted via the Stargate website might well be a breach of the Misuse of Drugs Act, and accordingly the police have been informed," Mr Anderton said.

Stargate International's Matt Bowden then immediately suspended sales of the drug.

But producers of the Great Southern Television-produced consumer show, the Truth Files, getting its first airing on TV2 this season, said Mr Anderton only acted after it commissioned tests on Ease by the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR).

"[Mr Anderton] would not have made this statement without us going to him with the information from ESR," said executive producer Rachel Gardner.

Mr Bowden said Government agencies, including the Ministry of Health, had approved importation.

"We checked the legality of this compound with the Ministry of Health and we received written consent to import it," he said.

But he stopped the "non-therapeutic clinical trial" of Ease now that tests showed it might be illegal.

Mr Bowden styles his company as trying to reduce drug-related harm "through the development of safer, legal alternatives" to drugs such as Ecstasy or methamphetamine.

Mr Anderton said evidence about the drug was presented by the ESR after it tested several products containing methylone, and scientists were of the view it was subject to the Misuse of Drugs Act.

He could not be reached for comment on whether the claims by the television show, that they had discovered Ease might contain an illegal substance, were correct.

Party pills are generally cheap, legal stimulants containing low-risk substances such as benzylpiperazine which energise users and give a sense of euphoria.