Hard News by Russell Brown

And ESR was right again this year, when its Forensic Chemistry Manager Kevan Walsh dispelled a lot of damaging Police blather about adulterants and mystery ingredients and pointed out that its testing of Police samples had consistently revealed a particular chemical: AMB-FUBINACA.

I think the Police were somewhat misreported. Under the headline Weed killer and fly spray in home-made synthetic cannabis the actual Police statement was:

Murray said there was Police intelligence and anecdotal reports of fly spray and weed killer in the drugs.

Eastern District Police has also released a statement that local sellers claim to include chemicals such as kitchen spray cleaner, rat poison, and horse tranquiliser.

“Police have been told anecdotally that some strands of synthetic cannabis could contain weed killer or fly spray, however, we have no evidence whatsoever of this being the truth,” Murray said.

They appear to be reporting what word on the street was rather than making the claim.

They appear to be reporting what word on the street was rather than making the claim.

They had actual test results by that point. Giving the flyspray story air was silly and unnecessary.

Under the headline Weed killer and fly spray in home-made synthetic cannabis the actual Police statement was:

Your link has an errant letter at the end, taking it to an 'unfound page window' - try this one:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11894951
It does point the finger at lazy media reporting (and bad headlines) being complicit in spreading misinformation.

Newshub has a similar article from earlier in the month:
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2016/07/black-market-synthetics-laced-with-weed-killer-fly-spray.html

and this __Spinoff __article lays some blame at Bill English's needless victim blaming.
https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/26-07-2017/we-havent-seen-deaths-like-this-in-ten-years-of-synthetics/

For the first time in history (fact check?) The drug policy portfolio will be held by the Health Minister, not delegated. That's great. Now "let's do this."*

* fully implement Law Commission recommendations

They had actual test results by that point. Giving the flyspray story air was silly and unnecessary.

Seems s bit harsh. The Police were warning the public of the dangers of synthetics, that people buying it did not know what was in it. And said here was no evidence that there was fly spray or weed killer - countering what appeared to be a common myth on the streets.

I came across the fly spray thing myself from people who would know. My guess is it might have been used as a solvent for application of AB-FUBINACA.

The drug policy portfolio will be held by the Health Minister, not delegated. That's great.

I thought you had reservations about the incumbent based on past form?

No, that's Russell... He's a meany.

Yes, we were critical of Labour's indifference to drug law reform in the lead up to the campaign... but they finally got there in the end (their Justice manifesto is clear on their intention to replace the Misuse of Drugs Act for example).

And as we saw with Peter Dunne, wise people can become very good allies when equipped with good information.

Good post and great article, Russell.

I thought you had reservations about the incumbent based on past form?

I hope Julie-Anne is able to have some influence here. She is capable, intelligent and can mount a good argument.

On drug stigma: Drug policy still, still, expressed in terms of harm.

Prejudice. Bigotry. People use drugs because drugs are good.

There is harm associated with drugs. There is harm associated with concrete, plums and motorcycles.

FTC

From your article, this is extremely disheartening;

We won’t be able to find out more from the two surveys: funding for them (largely from the Police budget) was cancelled recently. Wilkins admits he finds that frustrating… “We were too successful. You end up reporting something that people don’t want to hear.”

Hopefully with the new government that will change dramatically – as they (I hope) will be far more willing to admit we have a crisis and want to quantify/measure progress in addressing it.

Oh, look what Helen just went and done:
http://www.globalcommissionondrugs.org/hc_jrh/

No, that’s Russell… He’s a meany.

I'm persuadable!

And I do take your point about drug policy being at the Cabinet table.

At least five people in intensive care in Porirua. Synthetics.

This isn't going to stop.

Interesting perspectives on drug policies from his previous life in the police including undercover from our new MP for Ohariu in his maiden speech.