Party Pill Seller Tests Them All

[Thirdedge]

Sourse: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dailyne...8a6405,00.html

Party pill seller tests them all
06 February 2006
By KRYSTI WETTON

A New Plymouth businessman is defending his decision to open a shop that sells party pills, despite police warning people not to take the tablets.

Nic Cairns opened his "smart shop" on the city's main street earlier this year.

Its range of products includes party pills, relaxants, aphrodisiacs, hangover cures and super foods, such as Spirulina.

Party pills have caused controversy in New Zealand and there have been calls to ban them.

The active ingredient in the pills, BZP, has been banned in the United States, Western Australia and Queensland because it has no therapeutic use.

Health experts say users could progress from euphoria into a state of confusion and delirium. Some have experienced seizures, particularly if the pills are taken in excess of the stated dosage and mixed with alcohol.

Senior Sergeant Selwyn Wansborough, of New Plymouth, says police are against people taking party pills.

"Whether they're legal or not, they're not going to do you any good, especially when they're mixed with alcohol – you could be admitted to hospital."

He says people who take party pills could end up in a dangerous situation if they are unable take care of themselves.

It is not uncommon for them to become victims of sexual abuse, he says.

Mr Wansborough says the pills have been available in Taranaki for a long time and he does not believe Mindfuel will have much of an impact.

Mr Cairns believes his products are safe if the instructions are followed. He says he tries his products before selling any of them.

"Any duds, I don't sell. Ten years ago, we had herbal ecstasy, but it didn't have much of a kick.

"They're made of synthetics now and people need to follow the instructions."

Mr Cairns became interested in "herbs" about 10 years ago, while living in Wellington.

He researched different types by reading books on the subject, visiting garden centres and testing products.

"Cannabis is illegal, but I thought there must be millions of trees that have the same effect and aren't controlled."

The next step was to set up a website.

Customers can buy items via xxxxxxx, which attracts interest from people throughout the world.

The website helped Mr Cairns discover which products were the most popular and its success spurred him on to open a shop.

The narrow store, at 91a Devon St West, sells more than 50 brands of party pills alone. The party pills come in two main categories – energisers or sensory enhancers, and have different effects.

They can even help people come off hard drugs, such as P, Mr Cairns says.

He says his party pills are top quality and have been endorsed by the Social Tonics Association of New Zealand (Stanz).

This is not the case in Christchurch, where independent companies make potentially harmful products outside the confines of Stanz, he says.

Although he wants tighter restrictions to stop this happening, he believes that classifying the pills under the Misuse of Drugs Act will push the trade underground. "I don't see it as a problem unless you prohibit them."

All his stock can be legally sold and he insists customers are over 18. "Kids don't seem to be that interested anyway."

Most of his clients are aged between 25 and 45.

He says people have come into the shop asking for cannabis, but there is none available.

Instead, there are 40 different types of herbs on offer.

One gives people "mythical dreams that you can control", while another distorts sound: "That's a good one for musicians".

He says a lot of the herbs are new to New Plymouth.

One of the more unusual is Salvia Diuinorum. Its effects last for about three minutes.

Mr Cairns compares the feeling to a religious experience.

"You see the Gods within. It's bizarre for people – it makes you feel quite unusual."

He says he has never seen anyone become violent on party pills or legal herbs. "Ninety-nine per cent of people have a good time on them. They're pretty mellow.

"Alcohol is worse. People have done horrible stuff on alcohol for years."

One of Mindfuel's products can detect what ingredients are in illegal drugs.

"If someone is going to do illegal drugs, they won't drop dead because it's got something else in it," Mr Cairns says.

The shop is open extended hours on Thursday, Friday and Saturday – opening at 11.30am and not closing until 4am.

"I was going to open on Sundays to sell the hangover cures, but I need a day off," Mr Cairns says.

He doesn't mind working the 16-hour shifts, but plans to hire staff when the business is established.

His ultimate goal is for the shop to be open 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week.

Trade is busier at weekends, when people flock to the centre of town to experience the city's nightlife.

Customers are generally well-behaved, but he will soon be serving them from behind a window at night as security measure.

"Apart from shoplifting, we've had no problems."

Mr Cairns is excited about the new store and insists he has the best intentions.

"It's a passion I've had for a long time and I wouldn't sell anything I wouldn't take myself. I'm not trying to rip anyone off."