Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has come out of leftfield and banned a further two substances, both found in the popular synthetic cannabis brand K2. The totally unprecedented move by Dunne will see a Temporary Class Drug Notice issued on BB-22 and 5F-AKB48, bringing the total number of substances banned under Temporary Notices to 35.
Dunne confidently hailed it as “another blow to the industry and one of many we have delivered.” He hoped that the ban would help to force more of the K2 product, which was “clearly bad for people,” off shelves. Dunne further revelled in his continued success by promising that the “killer punch” will come in August when the Psychoactive Substances Bill becomes law.
This latest triumph for Dunne saw him not only condemn the synthetic cannabis industry itself but also the wholesome outlets, such as Willowbank Dairy and Balmoral Hill Dairy, that sell the product, accusing them of having “no integrity whatsoever.”
The ban will come into effect on Thursday 9 May, from which time it will become illegal to import, manufacture, sell or supply the substances, with penalties of up to eight years’ imprisonment. Although the substances are under a temporary ban, if found to be low-risk then they will not be illegal under the new legislation.
Submissions on the Bill closed on 1 May, and the Health Select Committee is due to report back to Parliament in mid-June.
He’s Dunne it again
