Mattersof Substance. august 2014 Volume 25 Issue No.3 www.drugfoundation.org.nz History never repeats New Zealand’s history of drugs and the laws to control them. CONTENTS History never New Zealand’s history of drugs and the laws to control them ABOUT repeats A DRUG COVER STORY 18 FEATURE DOING 06 LAPS USD 20 WORLD NEWS $25 04 FEATURES Become 06 16 20 24 a member History never repeats Shulgin was known Doing LAPs Face trashed A survey of the long history to many as the With few Local Alcohol Social media is a new The New Zealand Drug Foundation has of imbibing in Aotearoa “Godfather of Plans in place, communities frontier for alcohol been at the heart of major alcohol and New Zealand ecstasy” are still responding to companies, but does other drug policy debates for over 20 years. The pioneering chemist alcohol licence applications virtual marketing need During that time, we have demonstrated who created MDMA one by one better regulation? a strong commitment to advocating spawned many imitators policies and practices based on the but was an individual best evidence available. to the last You can help us. A key strength of the Drug REGULARS Foundation lies in its diverse membership base. As a member of the Drug Foundation, you will receive information about major The Director’s Cut 01 alcohol and other drug policy challenges. You can also get involved in our work to find Events 01 30 32 36 solutions to those challenges. GUEST EDITORIAL OPINION Q&A News 02 Our membership includes health promoters, Towards global drug Decriminalise Lotta Dann About a Drug 18 policies pathways cannabis, Journalist and mother primary health and community organisations, Viewpoints 32 that work decriminalise Maori?- Lotta Dann wrote about researchers, students, schools and boards A new Global Commission Hirini Kaa opposes legal her journey to sobriety Q&A 36 of trustees, policy makers, and addiction treatment agencies and workers. on Drugs report sets out changes that might and is now helping Mythbusters 37 an agenda for reform, increase access by Mäori hundreds as they make Membership and subscription enquiries says Steve Rolles to cannabis and invites us their own way [email protected] to tackle bigger questions or visit our website. of social justice www.drugfoundation.org.nz matters of substance is published matters of substance invites Brand development/ NZ Drug Foundation by the New Zealand Drug feedback and contributions. graphic design 4th Floor, 265 Wakefield Street Foundation. All rights reserved. If you’re interested in Insight +64 4 801 6644 PO Box 3082, Wellington, Neither this publication nor any contributing a guest editorial [email protected] New Zealand part of it may be reproduced or article, please contact us: www.designedbyinsight.com p +64 4 801 6303 matters of substance without prior permission of the [email protected] August 2014 Drug Foundation. p +64 4 801 6303 Vol 25 No. 3 ISSN 1177-200X COVER PHOTO: Nambassa Music Festival at Waihi, 15 February 1979. PHOTO CREDIT: ©APN THE DIRECTOR’S CUT SOCIAL @fioraaeterna A friend just referred to the FBI’s problem with trying to find hackers who don’t smoke weed as a “highering problem”. I give up. MAY 21 @stephenathome A new study says schizophrenia and pot smoking are genetically linked – but don’t worry, another study says you’re just being paranoid. JUNE 25 @rustyrockets Penalties; the crack-cocaine of football – we know it’s wrong but what a buzz. #BRAvsCHI JUNE 29 Should we lament the fact that, even though this was an election year, there was no @duncanstott “Drink responsibly” is the alcohol considered discussion of drug policy ideas industry’s version of “some of my best friends between political parties? On the other hand, knowing how difficult sensible political are black”. JULY 11 engagement is on this tricky issue, should we just be quietly grateful? @who WHO recommends removing laws S criminalizing sexual behaviours, drug use, It’s Catch-22. Drug policy deserves greater political attention, and there’s no good reason gender expression or perceived sexual ROSS BELL why parties can’t develop meaningful Executive Director orientation #HIV JULY 16 manifestos. But they don’t. Instead, drug debates are typically characterised by strident, ideological and simplistic rhetoric – “you’re either with us or against @thestartrust @PeterDunneMP confirms “That us”. We only need look back a few months to the unnecessary legal while the case for regulating #nzlegalhighs is high U-turn, which only happened because of election year sensitivities. very strong, doing it well does require some trial JULY 23 While drug policy didn’t feature in the election, we were able to glean and error.” party positions from responses to a New Zealand Herald poll showing, for the first time, majority support (52 percent) for @richiehardcore ‘You would possibly be the most cannabis law reform. annoying person ever on drugs.’ – @Amberleigh_ The National Party retained its blind faith in the status quo. Labour, Jack Personally I reckon I’d be awesome but and not for the first time, claimed it’s not a priority. So did the Greens, we’ll never know. JULY 31 who previously were big supporters of reform. ACT, the party of individual rights and liberty, copped out saying they’ll leave it to their MPs’ consciences. The only party that tried to develop a position was Internet MANA, but its leadership just couldn’t hold things together. KEY EVENTS & DATES It’s no longer tenable to say drug policy is a low priority. Yes, it’s hard and complex, and solutions will be tricky to come by. Cutting Edge 2014 Dunedin, New Zealand But political leadership needs to be shown. cuttingedge.org.nz What are our priorities for drug policy reform? Drawing inspiration 17-20 SEP 2014 from the Wellington Declaration, there is much to do. Let’s start with: • Scaling up harm-reduction services, especially needle exchanges, NZ Population Health Congress and replicate the successful Christchurch hep C clinic in major Auckland, New Zealand cities. pophealthcongress.org.nz 6-8 OCT 2014 • Giving real effect to recommendations from the alcohol marketing forum and not shy away from alcohol pricing. APSAD Scientific Conference • Supporting schools to keep young New Zealanders engaged in Adelaide, Australia education, including those busted with booze or pot. apsad.org.au 9-12 NOV 2014 • Rebalancing unfair funding between DHB and NGO addiction treatment services, and investing more in treatment and recovery efforts. 2nd International Symposium on Drugs and Driving 12-13 November • Reforming our 40-year-old Misuse of Drugs Act so the law supports Wellington, New Zealand rather than hinders health-focused drug policy. www.drugdriving.org.nz 12-13 NOV 2014 If our politicians continue to shy away from drug debates, we should invite them to take a backseat and allow the public to have the Follow us necessary dialogue instead. Join us online You can still read and sign up to the Wellington Declaration – nzdrug. drugfoundation.org.nz/connect org/wellingtondec matters of substance August 14 01 NEWS NZ. 02 Who stole 03 Bar staff 04 0.05 the power? vs predators at last! $17,685 A ROTORUA man has WELLINGTON bouncers A LAW PASSED in late been sentenced to nearly and bartenders are now July will lower the legal four years jail after being trained to step in blood alcohol concentration stealing almost $18,000 if they spot predatory to 0.05 percent for New worth of electricity to behaviour and think Zealand drivers and will 01 RESEARCH TO TRACK CHANGES power his cannabis- someone may be in danger take effect 1 December. FROM NEW SALE OF LIQUOR ACT of sexual violence. growing operation. The law means an average A typical example might A $1.2 million Massey University His other ‘hobbies’ adult should not consume be a man buying drinks included unlawful more than two standard for a woman and secretly project led by Professor Sally Casswell possession of a firearm, drinks in an hour before ordering water for himself. will investigate changes to alcohol assaulting Police, refusing driving. A zero alcohol a blood alcohol test and The Sexual Abuse tolerance for drivers consumption brought about by the dangerous driving. Prevention Network, under 20 remains. a collaboration between John Kenneth David, 53, Supporters say the law new alcohol legislation and will look Rape Crisis, the Sexual was caught with around complements the Sale Abuse Help Foundation to predict what further behavioural 200 plants, which could and Supply of Alcohol Act and WellStop, launched produce an estimated and will have a positive changes might occur. The same people the Wellington Safer Bars annual turnover of effect on drinking culture. Alliance in August. will be followed over time, and their $162,000. Police found However, opponents he had tampered with point out few people are drinking patterns and purchasing his power meter, stopping actually caught drink behaviours will be studied. it from recording power driving at these low limits. consumption. 06 RESOURCES “ The law Read more on the story here: means an nzdrug.org/ProfCasswell12 0.2% average adult HIV AMONGST INJECTING DRUG USERS should not A RECENT NZ NEEDLE Exchange consume study shows HIV amongst more than injecting drug users in New Zealand has fallen to two standard just 0.2 percent-the lowest drinks in an ever recorded here. - hour before 05 Common Ground Part of the Prime Minister’s whanau access to information, NZ Needle Exchange Director Youth Mental Health Project, tools and support so they can Charles Henderson attributes driving.” Common Ground, helps assist young people to get the the decline to the early - parents, families, whanau and right kind of help when they introduction of the needle friends of young people to need it.