Government plays whack-a-mole on synthetics

The Government’s announcement this morning of a further crack down on synthetic cannabis will continue a farcical game of whack-a-mole, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“Driving synthetics even further underground will only put New Zealanders at risk.

“Classifying two of these drugs as Class A will simply see new and more powerful synthetics pop up in a few months’ time. To believe otherwise is fanciful.

“The complete prohibition of drugs has utterly failed.

“New Zealanders are being harmed not because of a lack of government action on synthetics, but because less harmful alternatives have been banned.

“The answer is a more liberal, health-focused approach.

“We need to look to our friends in Canada, California and Colorado to see what can be achieved by a more enlightened drug policy.”