Cannabis laced with P lures young hard drug users

Unread post by **Christina Marie** » February 28th, 2006, 4:41 pm

Cannabis laced with P lures young hard drug users
01 March 2006
By JENNY LING

Gangs are lacing cannabis with P in a bid to hook youngsters on the class A drug.

Auckland police inspector Jim Wilson says it's a way of introducing people to the "hardcore drug scene".

"People need to realise the whole drug scene is controlled by organised criminals, ie gang members.

"They are unscrupulous and are happy to supply young people with drugs."

Cannabis is a class C drug unless processed as hash or hash oil. It then becomes class B.

Mr Wilson says people might not realise the danger involved in buying what is seen as a softer drug.

"They are dealing with gang members and organised criminals ultimately. Those people are involved in all sorts of serious crime across the board.

"Those gang members will take retribution if drug deals go bad."

Mr Wilson says P is a big problem but cannabis abuse is still rife.

Police have made more than 70 arrests in a blitz on dealers in the western part of the Auckland district. The area includes Balmoral, Blockhouse Bay, Hillsborough and Mt Roskill.

"Police have identified the top 10 tinny houses in the area and executed search warrants.

"As a result, people have been charged with offences including cannabis cultivation, possession and dealing."

Drug and alcohol treatment centre Odyssey House chief executive Chris Kalin says she hasn't heard of cannabis being laced with P.

But she says it's a big concern.

"It exposes the drug to a wider audience and that's a concern."

Mr Wilson says anyone who knows of drug dealers in their community should contact the police.

"If they don't want to tolerate it in the community then phone the police to stamp it out."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/manawatust ... 07,00.html