A horrifying 10-day ordeal in a Dubai prison felt like "10 years", Mariam Shafeek says. Shafeek arrived at Auckland International Airport yesterday after a holiday with family in Egypt ended in her arrest in Dubai on the way home. "It's extremely good to be back. It hasn't really sunk in yet," she said last night. The 22-year-old Christchurch student was arrested at Dubai Airport on January 25 after being found with 0.2g of marijuana in her purse. [continues 313 words]
Christchurch herbal-high dealers are being criticised by a party pill industry insider who says they need to clean up their act. Chris Fowlie, manager of Auckland party pill retailer The Hemp Store, and president of pro-marijuana group Norml, alleges that some Christchurch party pill stores are selling pills that are too strong. "Some stores have pills that are up to 1000mg of BZP (benzylpiperazine). They pack their pills with as much as they can," Fowlie said. "If you are used to a lower dosage and you take two or three of them, you are going to be in pain." [continues 574 words]
