Hawke's Bay police have warned locals of the dangers of synthetic cannabis in Hawke's Bay in light of reports eight people have died after using the illegal drug in Auckland this month.
This afternoon, police confirmed synthetic cannabis is "just as big a problem in Hawke's Bay" as other parts of New Zealand.
Emergency services, including St Johns and the Hawke's Bay Hospital, were regularly dealing with people suffering from the effects of the drug, they said.
Police said it could cause fitting, hallucinations, comas, long-term brain damage and even death.
"There is a lot of home-made 'synnies' circulating at the moment and it's dangerous stuff.