Shops breach legal high law

Lina Fan shows off her licence back in August before its suspension.

Two shops - one in Wanganui, the other in Hawera - can no longer sell synthetic cannabis after breaching the requirements of a new law.

The Psychoactive Substances Regulatory Authority has suspended the licence of Anna Long Ltd after the Hawera business appeared to be using premises that did not comply with the requirements of the Psychoactive Substances Act.

Lina Fan, who runs the Alma Rd Dairy in Gonville, has also had her licence suspended and charges laid against her.

Authority manager Dr Donald Hannah said applicants were told that they could not sell food and drink at premises where they were selling the drugs.

"In both suspensions, these applicants appear to have breached that undertaking," he said.

"This is a warning to those with interim retail licences that the requirements of the act need to be strictly adhered to."

A suspended licence meant the holder could not sell psychoactive substances while the authority investigated whether the licence should be revoked.

Anna Long Ltd is in the same building as the former Supreme Dairy and Superette, later known as Hardy's Dairy. The act prohibits dairies, service stations, liquor stores and supermarkets from selling the drugs.

Attempts by the Chronicle to reach the sole director and shareholder, Xiao Long Li, were unsuccessful.

Three licences have been issued in Wanganui and Stardust Creations and A & V Holdings' The Tobacconist, both on Victoria Ave, have drawn protest action.

The first picket, led by Ken Mair and Philippa Baker-Hogan, attracted upward of 50 protesters, but the numbers have shrunk to fewer than 10 on the occasions the Chronicle has attended. One attracted counter-protesters who urged the group to picket bottle stores as alcohol caused greater harm than "legal highs".

Ms Baker-Hogan said further protests would be held on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings outside Stardust and A & V's shop until further notice.

There have also been small protests outside Hawera Discount Tobacconist by members of the Salvation Army, according to reports. That shop is the only licensed seller in South Taranaki, although an application from a Manaia business is under consideration.

The Ministry of Health said prior to the act coming into force on July 18 there were about 4000 psychoactive substance retailers nationwide and 110 retail licences had been issued to date.

LICENCE ISSUED

Yan Lin t/a Hawera Discount Tobacconist, 109 Princes St, Hawera.

Alois Josef Muller t/a A & V Holdings, 78A Victoria Ave, Wanganui.

Stardust Creations t/a Stardust Creations Limited, 148 Victoria Ave, Wanganui.

UNDER CONSIDERATION

Zhen Sheng Lu t/a Vitoria [sic] More Discount Smokes Ltd, 259 Victoria Ave, Wanganui.

LICENCE SUSPENDED

Lina Fan t/a Lina Fan, 32 Alma Rd, Wanganui.

Xiao Long Li t/a Anna Long Ltd, 3A Glover Rd, Hawera.