Police warn both sides of K2 debate

Kelly Cadogan and Linda Forbes protest outside an Oamaru dairy yesterday. Photo / Andrew Ashton

Police in Oamaru are calling for both sides of an ongoing dispute over the sale of legal highs in the town to act responsibly, after a dairy owner yesterday allegedly turned a water blaster on a group of protesters campaigning against the sale of K2.

Police were called to intervene in the stoush between protesters and owners of the Meadowbank Dairy, on Thames Highway, at noon. Although Senior Constable Carl Pedersen said no charges would be brought, both protesters and the shop owners had been spoken to.

Mr Pedersen said the shop owners had decided to do some water blasting during the protest and had "indirectly" sprayed some of the protesters.

"Both parties have been advised how their behaviour should be in regards to protest, what their rights are and what they can and can't do.

"Hopefully, if they are going to continue protesting, there won't be any sort of confrontation."

Linda Forbes, who had organised regular protests outside Oamaru dairies since December, said the protesters had been unfazed by the dampening, and would hold another protest tomorrow.

Earlier this week Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne announced two substances included in the synthetic cannabis K2 product would be banned from May 9, but Mrs Forbes said she had little confidence anything would change.

"All they will do is say they have removed the ingredients and carry on selling it."

Tom and Cheryl Johnston said they had protested yesterday because Mr Johnston's son was hospitalised after he had an accident while high on synthetic cannabis.

"He decided to have a session on K2 and then decided to puff petrol.

"He had just got a job and been offered an apprenticeship and now it looks like he may lose it, all because he decided to come and buy this stuff," Ms Johnston said.

Mr Johnston said his son suffered first, second and third degree burns to 17 per cent of his body, and may need skin grafts once he was out of hospital in another two weeks.

The owner of the dairy declined to comment.