The Ministry of Health and anti-smoking groups have warned parents to steer their children clear of new "Ecstacy" cigarettes, already popular overseas.
The herbal cigarettes, called "Ecstacy" by their American makers, Kretek International, are being promoted as a marijuana substitute and are hot sellers in Australia.
Promotional posters in Sydneydeclare: "It smells like POT. Looks like POT. Relaxes like POT." And because the cigarettes are nicotine-free they are widely available to children.
But Action Against Smoking and Health (Ash) will vigorously oppose plans by the Australian distributor to start importing them into New Zealand.
"We would be very upset if they turned up here," said Ash director Trish Fraser yesterday.
"The problem is twofold: this sort of product just encourages more youths to take up real smoking. And they are unsafe anyway; all smoking is." She said the Government should stop the importation of the new cigarettes, just as it had moved to stop importers bringing lolly cigarettes here.
Ash would seek an amendment to the Smokefree Environments Act to restrict the cigarettes' availability if they started arriving here.
The Ministry of Health issued a warning yesterday stating that smoking the herbal cigarettes increased the risks of heart disease, strokes and cancer.
Because they were not at present subject to the Smokefree Environments Act, the ministry was appealing to parents to prevent their children from buying the cigarettes should they go on sale here.
But despite moves by Queensland and South Australian authorities to ban their sale to minors, the cigarettes have been selling fast since going on sale in April.
John Castle, a friend of Ngaire O'Neill, who died after taking an Ecstasy tablet in Auckland last year, said he was upset at the labelling of the cigarettes.
"I still cringe at the sound of that word every time I hear it."
Although he did not object to the use of herbal cigarettes he said labelling them "Ecstacy" was exploitative.
Australian Peter Ryan, who holds the New Zealand licence to import the cigarettes, has claimed they act as "a relaxant and aphrodisiac." They are said to contain the same mild sedatives used in herbal teas or tinctures.
But Auckland herbalist Ian Whitehouse said that despite their ingredients, any benefits from using the cigarettes would be outweighed because all smoking was harmful.
He said the "Ecstacy" label was just a cynical marketing ploy, and doubted any herbalist here would recommend the cigarettes.
