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Restrictions on legal highs loosened

Author
Michael Sergel,
Publish Date
Thu, 2 Apr 2015, 7:20PM
(Photo: Josh White)
(Photo: Josh White)

Restrictions on legal highs loosened

Author
Michael Sergel,
Publish Date
Thu, 2 Apr 2015, 7:20PM

The threat of legal action may have pushed Auckland Council into watering down restrictions on the sale of legal highs.

Councillors have voted to ban sales near schools, mental health facilities and marae.

Councillor Linda Cooper says the council is restricting the sale of highs in response to community demands.

"We've proposed to increase the buffer zones in the central city from 100 metres to 200 metres apart."

But Auckland Council policy analyst Janine Green told councillors the policy wouldn't ban legal high sales near transport hubs where young people gather.

"There are many transport hubs. It is difficult to identify these and it was going to end up pushing into being to onerous and potentially being legally challenged."

The first Government-approved highs go on sale in the middle of the year.

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