Police have prickly reaction to cactus sales in Hong Kong

Oct 20, 2010, 11:58 GMT

   Hong Kong - A 61-year-old florist got a prickly reaction from police for allegedly promoting the sale of a cactus plant as an alternative to the drug ketamine, a media report said Wednesday.

   The shopowner and his 53-year old assistant were arrested by Narcotics Bureau officers after police seized 34 pots containing Lophophora williamsii cactus plants, the Standard reported.

   A label saying 'Lophophora Williamsii = Ketamine' was attached to the plants when police raided the Exland Nursery in the Kowloon area.

   The cactus, commonly known as peyote, is not on Hong Kong's dangerous drugs list but has for centuries been linked with transcendence practices and psychotherapy.

   'It's a crime as long as anyone tries to convince others to believe what they are selling are drugs, even if the substance is not listed as a dangerous drug,' Hong Kong Law Society criminal law and procedure panel chairman Stephen Hung said.

   He said the charge carries a fine of up to 500,000 Hong Kong dollars (64,100 dollars) and seven years jail.

   Peyote, which is native to Mexico and the US state of Texas, produces mescaline which can induce hallucinations.