More communities should ban the public sale of synthetic cannabis and other legal highs, Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan says.
He contacted the Otago Daily Times this week after reports in other news media that the Waikato town of Putaruru had become the first place in New Zealand to rid its shop shelves of all legal highs.
Mr Cadogan said Clutha ''did that 18 months ago'', when he and police went around shops imploring retailers to stop selling synthetic cannabis products.
''I'm really proud of our shopkeepers. They have been brilliant to stay right out of it all this time, even though there is a lot of money to be made.''
Mr Cadogan said ''unfortunately'' some individuals within the Clutha district were buying and selling synthetic cannabis products privately.
There was nothing police could do to stop them while the products remained legal, he said.
However, the resolve of shopkeepers who refused to sell synthetic cannabis products had made a huge difference in the district, and other communities should follow suit, Mr Cadogan said.
''It would be wrong to say it's not in our area, but it's a huge bonus our retailers aren't doing it. I think it's been magnificent for our district.''
Many retailers throughout Otago have chosen to boycott synthetic cannabis products, including about half of the dairy owners in Dunedin. They have been supported by police.
