UPDATED: The sound of tooting cars was the sound of support and hope for change for protesters rallying against synthetic cannabis in Tauranga today.
The rally was part of a nationwide event which saw people throughout New Zealand stand outside legal high stores and share their stories of the drug as they urged the country's leaders to ban it completely.
One man, who wanted to be known only by his first name Andrew, shared his story with the Bay of Plenty Times.
He had been using synthetic cannabis for the past three years and only two weeks ago finally reached out to his family for help.
His mother, who wanted to remain nameless, said in the past two weeks she had noticed a huge change in his personality.
"I've got my boy back," she said with tears welling in her eyes, "he had just gone into a shell. He smiles again and he talks again. He never used to talk."
She said her son had become very anti-social while he was on the drug and did not like to be around people.
Having experienced the power of synthetic cannabis first-hand, Andrew said he wanted the drug banned from New Zealand.
"It's just hurting people," he said.
"It was affecting my work life, social life and money as well."
The person he described sounded completely different to the smiley and approachable person that was protesting against the drug today.
Andrew said he had suffered from bad depression during his time on the drug and had terrible withdrawal symptoms in the first three days clean from it.
His mother said he needed someone with him 24/7 in those first few days and emphasised how much support, mentally and physically, people needed while trying to come off the drug.
The Tauranga rally kicked off at 1pm outside Discount Tobacco on the corner of Cameron Rd and 16th Ave.
Organiser Renee Raynes said she had seen the affects of the drug on a number of people and had decided someone needed to stand up and organise the protest.
She said she was very happy with how it went and there was a lot of emotional connections to the subject for people involved.
"Everyone is here for a reason," she said, "because it's affecting so many people."
"This is about taking a united stance against a poison that is destroying families. It is time the government banned this poison completely.''
Doctors and nurses, social workers and politicians were also there to show their support.
EARLIER at 6.02am: A large gathering of people are expected at a rally against synthetic cannabis in Tauranga today.
The rally is part of a nationwide event which will see people in towns throughout New Zealand stand outside legal high stores and share their stories of the drug as they urge the country's leaders to ban it completely.
The Tauranga rally kicks off at 1pm outside Discount Tobacco on the corner of Cameron Rd and 16th Ave.
Organiser Renee Raynes said social workers, politicians and members of the public would be getting involved.
"This is about taking a united stance against a poison that is destroying families. It is time the government banned this poison completely.''