The message was loud and clear: ban synthetic cannabis.
Around 300 people, young and old and from every facet of the Rotorua community, marched from Kuirau Park to City Focus on Saturday to support a nationwide protest against synthetic cannabis products.
Two Rotorua shops licensed to sell synthetic cannabis, which were on the march route, closed their doors early. Wild Things and Skingraft both had signs on their doors - Wild Things said it only sold "Health department approved products" while Skingraft's sign said it believed alcohol, tobacco, gambling and sugar were "more harmful to our community".
"Synthetic cannabis is reaching right into our communities, into our houses and families," said Maraea Pomana, a youth worker with march organisers Te Waiariki Purea Trust.
"We're tired of seeing a family in strife and struggling, we're tired of seeing family violence. To have synthetics legalised is our last straw. This comes from all over our social networks, our hapu and young people.