Pubdate: Sun, 17 Jul 2011
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2011 New Zealand Herald
Contact:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300
Author: Andre Hueber

SCHOOL DRUGS CRACKDOWN

Schools are cracking down on Kronic and other forms of synthetic
cannabis, amid fears that they are the drug of choice for students who
are trying to get past drink-drive checkpoints.

Secondary Principals' Association president Patrick Walsh said legal
highs were becoming the preferred drug for school students,
"particularly for those who drive".

"They know alcohol or marijuana can be detected but Kronic can't be,"
he said.

Palmerston North Boys' High removed three students with drugs from its
boarding facilities last week and the school's rector, Tim O'Connor,
said legalised party drugs would be added to the school's list of
prohibited substances. One student was caught with the legal high
Rasta's Ganja, while two others had marijuana.

A Wellington teenager has also been suspended from school for dealing
the legal substances to fellow students. Hutt Valley High School
principal Ross Sinclair confirmed a 14-year-old was suspended for two
dealing incidents last month.

Takapuna Grammar has banned legal highs and so has Macleans
College.

O'Connor said the Manawatu boys were devastated and counselling was
made available to them. The school had employed a drug detection
agency to carry out inspections three times so far this year and the
rector promised "there will be more".

He said teenagers were getting mixed messages about what society
viewed as acceptable and described legalised drugs as "a new low for
the country".

Walsh said anecdotal information from principals and parents indicated
the problem was growing.

"Increasing numbers of students are showing signs of drowsiness,
vomiting and an inability to concentrate. When they're sent to the
sick-bay and parents are called, Kronic is found to be involved."

Students sometimes admitted to smoking up to three joints in one
hour.

"It's getting worse and the more it's discussed in the media, the more
it triggers an interest."

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne said last week that laws
restricting the sale of synthetic cannabis products would be passed in
weeks. It will still be legal to sell it, but not from liquor stores
and petrol stations. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.