MEDICINE HAT HIGH SCHOOL PLANS TO KEEP KIDS SAFE FROM MEXICAN
HERB

Staff at Medicine Hat high school say they've heard of Salvia
Divinorum, a highly potent, vision inducing herb of Mexico, and are
doing their best to keep it out of their school.

Rick Lane, vice principal of the school said parents recently brought
the herb to administration's attention, as they are concerned about it
being sold in local convenience stores so close to the school.

"It's so new, we haven't even had much time to think about it," said
Lane, who heard about it only a few days ago.

"Our concern is education... we want students to be safe and parents
to be aware of the consequences, the risks, that are involved."

He said the school does not have much information beyond a simple hand
out they have access to.

"We at least have the education going on and I just hope that we're
able to find a way to keep the kids safe from getting hurt from it,
that's the big concern of course," said Lane.

"So just like anything that's harmful, like alcohol for example, we
want kids to be aware of risks."

If the herb is brought into the school, it will be handled in the same
manner as any other drug as per the school drug policy.

"Any kind of drug that would come into our school would be, of course,
unacceptable," said Lane.

"Whether it's alcohol or illegal drugs or legal drugs that are causing
a student to be... dangerous to themselves or others."

Lane added handling the herb is part of a safety issue, and will be
handled with school suspensions, referrals to AADAC, information
packages for students to work through "to understand the nature of the
drug," and possible recommendations for expulsions. The school
resource officer will also be involved in these situations.

In the meantime, school administration are communicating with Member
of Parliament Monte Solberg, Medicine Hat MLA Rob Renner and city
councillors to make them aware of the issue and will do what they can
to get the community to support the battle.

"Our intention is to do what we can to keep kids safe," said Lane.