‘Weed popcorn’ hits Gweru

GWERU has been hit by a new glut of drugs where youths are mixing marijuana and popcorn to form a concoction which they now call weed popcorn, The Herald has learnt. A snap survey by The Herald established that the laced popcorns have now replaced weed cakes which were stopped by a police blitz that mainly netted tertiary students.

The drugs are now being sold to tertiary students through different social media platforms and are going for $2 a packet. A female student (name withheld) said the architects of the weed popcorn were also selling the drugs to unsuspecting customers.

“I was given some popcorn by my friends oblivious to the substances that were in them and soon after eating, I started feeling weird. I became hyperactive and started having illusions and I lost control of myself. I could have been raped by anyone at that point and I do not think I could have been able to identify them. The following morning when I drank water, I became dizzy and felt sleepy,” she said. Another male student said the popcorn is are made at house parties.

“We usually make them when we are having house parties. Because of the low budget that we will be working with, we use them to get high quickly and complement with spirits,” he said. The Ministry of Health and Child Care has announced that it would this year conduct a survey on drug abuse amid reports that there has been a surge in drug and substance abuse by youths most of whom in tertiary in- stitutions. Deputy Director Alcohol and Drug Abuse in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Mrs Docas Sithole said there has been an alarming increase in cases of drug abuse by youths.

“Our main concern is the increase in drug and substance abuse by youths. We have had serious cases of drug abuse in most cities and towns particularly high-density suburbs. Also we have realised that street children are also abusing drugs,” she said. Mrs Sithole said the ministry was also prioritising tertiary institutions in the fight against drug and substance abuse.

“We have engaged all colleges and universities on awareness campaigns to stop drug and substance abuse,” she said.