TAINTED POT SICKENS 4

A batch of bad dope making its way through schools in York Region has
prompted a police warning to pot smokers.

Four high school students in Newmarket, Aurora and King City have
become violently ill after smoking marijuana since Jan. 7.

"And it stands to reason there are more incidents happening that
aren't being reported because it deals with illegal drugs," York
Regional Police Const. Stuart Betts said.

The first case involved a 15-year-old boy who smoked a marijuana
joint on his lunch break at a Newmarket school on Jan. 7.

Shortly after, he began vomiting and kept losing his balance. He was
treated and released in hospital the same day.

Two days later, a 15-year-old King City girl was treated at the
hospital after she smoked some pot and started vomiting blood.

There have been two other cases reported to Street Beat officers
working in schools in York's 1 District -- the most recent on Feb.
20, Betts said.

The symptoms include vomiting, and loss of limb control, balance and
consciousness.

Police may never know what's in the tainted pot.

"It could be anything from pesticides and fertilizers to herbicides.
The people who are producing it and supplying it don't care about the
health of the end user. There are chemicals all over the place in
these hydroponic labs," Betts said.