A party pill activist says he's delighted the Government has decided against banning the party pill ingredient DMAA.
Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne yesterday said the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs (EACD) had considered the risk posed by 1,3 dimethylamylamine (DMAA) and advised it be scheduled as a restricted substance.
The scheduling would mean a prohibition on selling or supplying DMAA to anyone under 18 years of age, advertising DMAA or offering it a gift or reward.
Products containing DMAA would also have to meet strict labelling and packaging requirements.
Matt Bowden of the Social Tonics Association said making the drug a restricted substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act was "welcome news".
"Peter Dunne has shown wisdom in listening to his experts this week, tight regulation gives society controls over the consumer market," he said.
"The other option of banning would have handed control of the market to organised crime."
Mr Bowden said he developed the products and put them on the market 18 months ago to replace BZP, which the previous government banned.
"They have proven to be a safer alternative to alcohol, methamphetamine and the other drugs," he said.
"The experts have recognised this and advised against making them illegal, instead placing regulations around them to make them safer, which is a win for industry, for consumers and for public safety."
He said evidence-based regulatory models were a better option than a "war on drugs" model.
"Banning consumer drugs empowers a black market; conversely blanket legalisation of drugs would also be problematic, so the third option of tight regulation means a safer market for consumers, not a black market. It is the safest option."
Mr Bowden urged the Minister to prioritise dosage limits for DMAA.
" Let's make the regulations work this time to keep consumers even safer. That would totally rock."
Mr Dunne has asked the Ministry of Health to look at legislation prohibiting the sale of large quantities of the pure chemical form of DMAA.
This would outlaw the sale of the substance, in any form other than as a tablet or capsule.
The Ministry would also consult the "party pill" industry on controls on the maximum dose of DMAA per tablet or capsule.
