1.Don't for a second believe that NZ drug classifications are based on science/risk/harm. In studies I have been involved we have administered all classes including, LSD, psilocybin (mushrooms), ketamine, alcohol, synthetic opioids, benzodiazepines …

2.+ many more obscure medicines – all with the aim of understanding how these drugs affect brain function and behaviour. As we set up each study, we do a full safety evaluation of each drug and it goes to the appropriate regulatory body for approval.

http://3.So  yeh I am pretty comfortable saying there is no scientific basis for our drug classifications. Some classes are historical accident but mostly they have been devised by politicians to further their own political agendas.

4.The usual agendas being to stoke fear in the populations or to structurally discriminate against particular ethnic or religious groups. Because our drug classification system is built on the lie that it is safety based it misinforms the public

5.Essentially, an individual who decides to use drugs can’t use government policy as a basis for their own risk assessment. Perhaps more damaging though, is that several of these substances (psilocybin, MDMA, LSD) are showing potential medical uses.

6.The classification system puts huge barriers in the way of doing such medical research and slows it down. In NZ it is possible technically to study the medical use of these drugs.

7.However, I can tell you from first-hand experience that every barrier that can be put in the way of doing such research is put in the way.