A few months ago, someone I know told me she thought her husband was smoking synthetic cannabis.
His moods were all over the place and he seemed "out-of-it" at times. Turns out he was smoking it but has since seen sense and now won't touch the stuff.
Just afew weeks after that, another friend sent me a text message saying we needed to do more at the Rotorua Daily Post to raise awareness about the dangers of the drug. Her daughter's teen boyfriend was hooked and was selling his possessions to fund his habit.
Each week it seems these shocking cases become more regular.
Now New Zealand Lotteries has taken a stand against the drug, sending letters to independently owned stores across New Zealand selling Lotto products asking them not to sell legal highs from July 1.
Other residents are taking a stand by boycotting the stores that sell synthetic cannabis.
While it might seem a little rich on one hand for what is essentially a gambling outfit to be critical of a legalised product, I believe New Zealand Lotteries should be commended.
Our local MP Todd McClay has an important role to play with his new title of Associate Health Minister, which includes taking over the Psychoactive Substances Bill - regulating legal highs such as synthetic marijuana. It's time this country banned all such products, and quickly.
