‘Herbal blend’ drug shockingly accessible and addictive
It was clear some store owners in Roodepoort were playing dumb, but unfortunately, the drug is available across Gauteng.
The relative ease of accessing a drug called ‘herbal blend’ is disturbing, especially considering that over the past weekend, 14 people were hospitalised after consuming it, Roodepoort Record reports.
Once the police released a statement that the ‘drug’ was being sold over the counter at liquor stores, adult shops, and tobacconists, the media set off to investigate how hard it was to get hold of the ‘drug’ – which looks a lot like cannabis. The very first shop approached, an adult shop, indeed had a version of the ‘drug’ in stock.
The specific ‘brand’ name was Blazing.
The store employee, who asked to remain anonymous, explained that the ‘drug’ was actually a potpourri that had aphrodisiac qualities and was supposed to be burnt like incense. He stressed that it should not be smoked at all. The back of the package had a warning that it was not to be sold to persons under the age of 21. It did not specify the ingredients though.
He said that the shop “… would never sell the product to minors or anyone that we suspect would abuse it”.
Police are still waiting for the forensic laboratory results, which should guide them on how to deal with the problem.
The media is in the process of contacting the distributor and/or manufacturer of the product.
A video surfaced on Facebook yesterday of two young men allegedly intoxicated by the drug over the weekend. The clip was allegedly filmed by the father of the men, who can be seen writhing in pain, walking around mindlessly, and chocking on their vomit.
Read original story on roodepoortrecord.co.za
