Party Pill Ban passes first reading

NZPA reports that Parliament voted 113-8 (Greens and ACT against) for the legislation allowing party pills with BZP to be made illegal drugs with the same seriousness as cannabis.

The motivations of those supporting the ban are sincere I am sure.  But I really hope they consider at select committee a few things:

1) Will regulation and education be more effective than prohibition?

2) How do you justify banning party pills, and not alcohol or tobacco?

3) Why do you think prohibition will be any more effective than say it was for the US with alcohol in the 1930s

4)  Do you think it is a smart move to criminalise almost every party going under 25 year old?