North Shore Times (New Zealand)
Synthetic cannabis warning
Waitemata Police are warning about the dangers of using synthetic cannabis and say it may be present, even in areas where there haven’t been arrests.
While the Waitemata Police have made arrests in the Hibiscus Coast and Waitakere, there haven’t been any yet on the North Shore.
But the North Shore Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Jason Homan, said it was likely the drug was being used on the Shore and was urging people to think twice.
‘‘The potential consequences can be deadly and have permanent lasting effects,’’ Homan said.
‘‘We urge parents to have honest discussions with their children about the dangers of this synthetic drug, The potential consequences of using this on just one occasion could lead to death or serious long-lasting side effects.’’
Police have referred 10 deaths to the coroner this year, possibly linked to the use of synthetic cannabis.
Homan said the coroner’s investigation was expected to take some time and police were working with district health boards, the Ministry of Health, Coronial services and St John to inform public of dangers.
Police were also asking people to seek help through agencies like CADS if needed.
‘‘Police can not solve this problem alone and we need our community to tell us who is infecting our community with this drug,’’ Homan said.
Police have already seized large amounts of the drug in Auckland and Canterbury.
They said some suppliers could lace synthetic cannabis with other chemicals but there was no scientific evidence to support this.
Alternatively, some manufacturers were known to spray plant material with harmful household chemicals and sell this as synthetic cannabis.
Homan was asking people to provide information to police directly or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Across Auckland and Christchurch, 10 arrests were made in raids made in early August and about 3 kilograms of the drug was seized from five Auckland addresses.