PRINCIPAL URGES ACTION OVER TEEN CANNABIS

The principal of Napier Boys' High School has called for the wider
community to take a grip of teenage cannabis problems following the
arrest of a man and his son over an alleged cannabis-dealing
operation among pupils.

Ross Brown made the call yesterday after revealing his was the
school where a 16-year-old boy is alleged to have dealt cannabis
with fellow pupils.

"Young people cannot afford to be involved in marijuana," Mr Brown
said. "Schools have them just five hours a day, but people know
there are people using marijuana in our community and must side-up
alongside schools and police to get rid of this problem.

"The school management has always had a strong stance on issues of
drug use and this has not changed.

"As community leaders we must play a responsible role in protecting
our young people and our response to this incident simply
illustrates our preparedness to do just that."

Management at the school last week became aware of cannabis use
among some pupils outside school hours and alerted police with
information from "the wider school community".

A search of a Napier South property on Wednesday uncovered cannabis
and cash allegedly linked to the supply to the students.

A 45-year-old beneficiary is to appear in the Napier District Court
next Wednesday facing indictable charges of possessing cannabis for
supply, cultivating cannabis and being a party to the sale of
cannabis to people under the age of 18. His 16-year-old son, a pupil
at the school and who had $1180 when his home was searched - is
being referred initially to Police Youth Services with decisions
pending on whether he will face the charges in the Youth Court.

Mr Brown called on the community to help stamp-out the use of
cannabis and other illicit drugs by young people.

"Cannabis has a seriously debilitating effect on their learning," he
said. "The wider community must take clear steps to demonstrate that
its use is unacceptable. Our young people are our future, and we
must all act with courage to ensure that they have every opportunity
to live and learn without the presence of such negative factors."

He said the school would continue to be ensure young people in
Napier are safe and secure, and had every opportunity to succeed.

"The community generally has to work alongside schools and police,
and anyone dealing with teenagers has got an issue with marijuana," he said.