Synthetic cannabis has turned a teenage daughter from being sociable to stealing and self-harm, says a concerned Dunedin mother, who wants retailers to stop selling it to minors like her daughter.
The woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, said her 17-year-old daughter stole to feed her synthetic cannabis habit.
''I didn't know she was taking it and then a lot of money went missing out of my wallet and bank account.''
Her once ''bright and caring'' daughter became ''abusive and aggressive''.
''She was a socialite; she could communicate and make friends with just about anybody, but she changed and developed social anxiety.''
The teenager became unsociable and insular and had begun self-harming by cutting her arms and legs.
Because of the stealing, the woman ''kicked her out'' and her daughter was living with her 16-year-old boyfriend and his mother.
''It's difficult, but she has stolen hundreds of dollars in the last year.''
Access to synthetic cannabis was too easy for young people, despite new legislation making it illegal to sell to those under the age of 18.
''I do know it's being sold to minors because how else would my daughter be getting it?''The retailers were making a ''quick buck'', putting that ahead of children's ''health and sanity''.
She wants any parent with a child with a synthetic cannabis problem to make their voice heard and put pressure on the Government to ban the product.
''It's got to stop; it has to stop. [Prime Minister] John Key has got to get it out of the shops completely.''
She was concerned her daughter's habit could have severe consequences, but she felt powerless to help.
''I'm scared that she's going to end up dead and I can't do anything about it - she blocks me right out ... I've watched my daughter deteriorate from an A student to nothing. She has thrown away everything.''
