Police winning battle to end legal high sales

While a covert purchasing operation shows there's work to be done, Hamilton Police say a joint preventative operation targeting synthetic cannabis has made significant gains in reducing harm in the community.

Hamilton city area commander Inspector Greg Nicholls said the recently-completed Operation Dairy had seen a 24 per cent increase in the number of stores in the city no longer selling synthetic cannabinoids.

"When the operation began late last month there were 48 dairies selling synthetic cannabinoids and 41 choosing not to.

"Since the first phase of Operation Dairy was completed, the number of stores selling has dropped to 36 and the number choosing not to has climbed to 53.

That's a significant gain in the prevention of harm to our community and something we'll be seeking to build on."

While the reduction in the number of people willing to profit from the sale of synthetic cannabinoids was a real positive, Mr Nicholls said a controlled purchase operation conducted by Waikato District Health Board population health staff showed authorities needed to be vigilant.

"Health officials visited nine businesses. Five dairy employees and owners sold synthetic cannabinoids products and in one case cigarettes to the 17-year-old volunteer who was briefed to give their correct age when asked.

"The level of non-compliance concerned both agencies, particularly when you consider the number of educational visits conducted over the past month."

Mr Nicholls said with the pending law change limiting synthetic cannabinoid sales, vendors should be aware similar operations were planned.

"In the interim, Hamilton police staff will continue to work with health officials, community groups and companies to reinforce the message of the potential harm that can come from the purchase and consumption of such substances."

FINES FOR SELLING

Retailers caught selling synthetic cannabis to a minor can be fined up to $400 but selling tobacco to a minor carries a maximum fine of $1000. A Ministry of Health spokesperson said the herbal smoking product provisions in the Smokefree Environments legislation predate the arrival of synthetic cannabinoids and other smokable herbal highs.

The provisions were designed to control herbal cigarettes (cigarettes that contained no tobacco and no nicotine) sometimes sold in traditional herbal remedy stores. The Psychoactive Substances Bill will increase fines to $5000 for an individual and $10, 000 for a company.