Forty-nine students turned over illegal drugs at two local local high schools Thursday morning to avoid being arrested.

The seizure of the drugs were part of an operation co-ordinated between police and administration at Banting Memorial High School in Alliston and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School in Tottenham.

John Fallis, principal at Banting Memorial High School, said the police had prearranged to enter the school.

Nottawasaga OPP, six dogs from the OPP's K-9 unit and one dog from Barrie Police Service descended on the school.

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Nottawasaga OPP officers are now using their discretion when it comes to charging people with simple possession of marijuana.

Acting on a directive from OPP Commissioner Gwen Boniface, the local detachment will seize the marijuana and document the case but not press charges for possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana, said Nottawasaga OPP detachment commander, Insp. Mark Allen.

"The laws concerning possession are still on the books," he quoted Boniface as saying.

That means the circumstances of the incident will be recorded, with a view to possibly laying a charge later on.

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OPP officers are now using their discretion when it comes to charging people with simple possession of marijuana.

Acting on a directive from OPP Commissioner Gwen Boniface, local detachments will seize the marijuana and document the case but not press charges for possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana, said Insp. Mark Allen, of the Nottawasaga detachment.

"The laws concerning possession are still on the books," he quoted Boniface as saying. That means the circumstances of the incident will be recorded, with a view to possibly laying a charge later on.

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Police are getting high in South Simcoe to bring a few drug growers down to earth.

As part of an ongoing program to catch illegal crops of marijuana in rural areas, the OPP take to the skies in a helicopter. Tuesday's operation was staged at the G.A. Wright Athletic Fields in Alliston.

The helicopter -- which had landed on a soccer pitch -- had a few people slowing to take a closer look.

Along with the helicopter, there were several support vehicles, including a large police cube van, used to haul away evidence after being spotted by the flying dope snoops.

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