Mayor joins in march against synthetic drugs
Waitaki District Mayor Alex Familton will be joining Oamaru woman Linda Forbes on Saturday as she takes a stand against the sale of synthetic drugs in Oamaru.
Mrs Forbes is hoping she has the support of the community as she stages a protest to raise awareness of the dangers of legal drugs.
She will be leading a walk down Thames Highway towards Oamaru's CBD, starting at 2pm outside Meadowbank Dairy, trying to stop the sale of the legal drugs, which she says are turning good kids into criminals.
Since Mrs Forbes announced her plans in the Oamaru Mail on Tuesday she has received negative and positive feedback on her plans.
"I just hope that people get behind it so it's all been worth it," she said.
Mr Familton said he would be present for part of the movement tomorrow.
"I totally support what [she] is doing. It's good that somebody is taking a stand and indicating to our community that there are serious risks involved," Mr Familton said.
"The sale of K2 and other drugs of that variety is completely tragic."
Last year, Mr Familton and St Patrick's Basilica priest Father Wayne Healey visited all the outlets known to be selling synthetic cannabis in Oamaru, to inform them it was having "detrimental health effects".
Mr Familton said it was "quite sad and pathetic" that some of those outlets had continued to sell the products after many gave an undertaking that they would cease the sale.
"I would encourage people not to use those outlets if they know where they are," Mr Familton said.
