Brown SimeonPSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES (INCREASING PENALTY FOR SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION) AMENDMENT BILLFirst ReadingSIMEON BROWN (National—Pakuranga): I move That the Psychoactive Substances (Increasing Penalty for Supply and Distribution) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Justice Committee to consider the bill.It is a pleasure to rise and introduce this important bill to the House. This bill tackles an increasingly important issue in our country. It will address the growing danger and considerable concern in our communities that is caused by synthetic drugs. For many people there exists a false narrative around synthetic drugs. Such people suggest that these psychoactive substances are innocuous so that we can find an acceptable place for them in our society and in the lives of our young people. They're called party pills natural power and herbal highs. They're all horrible euphemisms designed to lessen public concern and hide the harm that these drugs cause. In truth they're far more than a bit of a high on a night out or an occasional pick-me-up.For far too many these drugs are the beginning of the end leading to lives of dependency and addiction. Tragically more than two dozen people across New Zealand have died from these drugs over the past year. Calum Jones a 22-year-old father was one such man. But I think that the most tragic aspect of Jones' story is that he was going clean. After wrestling for months with addiction he had finally found help. He'd spent weeks in rehab and was clean but because of how easy it is to get these drugs within days of leaving rehab he was dead.One of the most reprehensible aspects of synthetic drugs is that their potency and toxicity vary so much that it is not possible to know the effect they will have. When you light up will it mean experiencing a high or will it be the last thing you ever do? It is a gruesome game of Russian roulette being played out on the streets of cities and towns across New Zealand.After his death texts found on Jones' phone showed that during the three days before he died he was texted by a drug dealer almost 100 times. He'd been clean for six weeks but was hounded by someone who had no interest in his health or in the dangers these drugs pose but only in the profit he could make out of Calum's addiction. He harassed him until he made what would be his final purchase. I cannot imagine the pain Jones' loved ones feel knowing that he'd almost escaped from the grasp of these insidious drugs only to be taken away by the bullying of some despicable merchant of death.I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge Calum's father Lewis who is here in the gallery with us today. Lewis has faced what no father should ever want to face—having his son Calum stolen from him far too young by drug dealers who know no compassion. Standing here in this Chamber I do not even know half the feelings he and his family have felt but I know that we can do something this afternoon to help ensure that other families don't have to face what they have faced.These drugs are causing a tremendous amount of harm. That is why it is necessary for us to address the easy access that so many people have to these substances. Men and women like Jones who want to be clean are being pursued by dealers who show no regard for the law and scoff at the penalties that are in place. Synthetic drugs are causing far greater harm than addiction to codeine or cannabis seed but these substances are classified as class C drugs and carry a maximum penalty of eight years in prison while dealing synthetics carries only a maximum of two years.Over the past four years we have seen the number of convictions for dealing synthetic drugs greatly increase from 23 in 2013-14 to 145 in 2016-17. But if the most the law can do is put people in prison for a few months we shouldn't pretend that this is of any real deterrence. The majority of convictions for supply wouldn't even come close to receiving the maximum two-year penalty.The High Court determined in 2015 that in order for someone to be given a sentence of between one and two years they must be supplying at a commercial scale. This highlights the inconsistency in the way we treat harmful substances in our communities and must be changed. Changing the penalties in place will address the supply side of this issue and highlight the importance that Parliament places on it. But we must also address the demand and consumption side.I do not claim that this issue is solely a matter of law and order that can be resolved just by bringing the force of the law against suppliers. That will not fully solve this problem. To address the harm that is presented by these drugs we must maintain our consistent narrative and impose consistent penalties for those who deal drugs. But we must also provide support treatment and care for those who suffer from addiction to these drugs. Those who are addicted need our help.To fully and comprehensively do our duty to the people of New Zealand we must also ensure that solutions are found to the health aspects of addiction not merely law and order. That is why I launched a petition with the Jones family for a parliamentary select committee inquiry into addiction to synthetic drugs and how we can best address the issue from that aspect. This is the two-pronged approach necessary to address both the supply and demand elements of this issue. The need for a multifaceted approach however does not negate the need to amend the law to correct the appalling inconsistency in the way these drugs are treated under the law.The greatest help and support that we can provide to those who are addicted to these substances is to remove the drugs from our streets. Too many people have been told when seeking help for a loved one plagued by addiction to synthetic drugs not to worry so much as they are only synthetics. Too many young people have no healthy fear of these substances because they've heard over and over again that they are just synthetics—drugs that not even Parliament is too concerned about. We have to change the conversation about synthetics.As a Parliament we need to send a very clear message that to supply these drugs to another person is a serious crime one of callous indifference to another person's life and health. Increasing the sentences not only sends a message but also helps make the community safer by taking those convicted off our streets. Some people recoil when they hear about tougher sentencing for drug supplying. They argue that such legislation advances the so-called war on drugs and does nothing to actually help those who suffer from addiction to synthetics. Simply put these suggestions are patently wrong. This amendment bill and the petition that I've launched are necessary and measured responses to the growing drug problem New Zealand faces. Together they address both sides of the issue considering both the criminal and the medical facets.This is not a bill which targets the victims of drug addiction and mental illness. Maximum sentences are there for maximum offenders. Judges will use their discretion when handing down sentences taking into account the seriousness of the offence but without a maximum sentence of eight years judges are constrained in how they can deal with those who are profiting from the misery of others.Having made this clear I am optimistic that no MP will oppose this bill on the grounds that it is not appropriately holistic in its approach. That being the case I call on the Greens in particular to support this bill to the select committee. Please let the public express their views and tell their stories so that MPs can hear what people are saying in the communities up and down our country.The people of New Zealand don't want a Government and a Parliament to be soft on crime or soft on these dangerous drugs. This bill is on their side. This is a targeted amendment that will make significant and desperately needed changes to important legislation and to the lives of many New Zealanders. The tragic loss of Calum Jones Kahu Harawira Marilyn Makikiriti and too many others like them demands that we take this step to restrict access to these drugs.At the moment the penalties that are in place are completely inconsistent with the harm that is being done. I call on all members to vote for this bill so that Parliament can take action against the supply of these drugs and to help create a safer community for all New Zealanders. I commend this bill to the House.