The law, passed on Friday, will experiment with the system over the next year
New Zealand s government hopes it will help tackle the country s drug problem
Despite the new law, it is still illegal to possess or sell illegal drugs in the country
But it will mean those that do posses drugs can test them for harmful substances
Early studies of pilot testing scheme showed promising results regarding safety
However, not everyone is convinced, with some arguing the law could give people the false impression that drugs - regardless of contamination - are safe
Are Your Illegal Drugs Pure? New Zealand Will Check Them for You.
A law will allow controlled substances to be tested without penalty to ensure their authenticity. The goals are to reduce health risks and, perhaps, change users’ behavior.
New Zealand has enacted the Drug Checking Act after a one-year pilot program found that contaminants were common in illegal drugs. Credit.U.S. Customs/Newsmakers, via Getty Images
April 9, 2021Updated 7:04 a.m. ET
AUCKLAND, New Zealand New Zealand has enshrined into law a one-year experiment allowing drug users to have illegal substances tested without penalty to ensure their authenticity and to weed out dangerous chemicals.
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