Just over 200 businesses have applied for a licence to sell legal synthetic drugs.
Under the Psychoactive Substances Act, only approved products can by sold and these can not be sold to anyone aged under 18.
Approved products can not be sold from dairies, grocery or liquor stores. Specialist stores can apply for a licence to sell the synthetic drugs.
Some 202 stores around the country have applied for such licences since the legislation came into effect last month.
Seventeen of those stores were operating as discount tobacco shops and two dairies in Christchurch are converting into specialist legal high stores.
