Pubdate: Fri, 09 May 2014
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2014 Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact: http://www.edmontonsun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.edmontonsun.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Allison Salz
Page: 2

SCHOOLS SNUFF OUT VAPING

Students banned from using e-cigarettes

Teens are turning to hash oil, easily smoked using electronic or
e-cigarettes, to get their marijuana fix - a trend city cops are
calling "dangerous".

Now officials with Edmonton's two school divisions are taking action
by banning the devices on school district property.

Popularity of hash oil has been slowly building, prompting a warning
from cops early last month.

Officers say over the past two weeks, five incidents have been
reported, or discovered, by school resource officers, in the past two
weeks.

The information that we're seeing is that it's prevalent, it's
everywhere," said Sgt. Kelly Rosnau, with EPS' School Resource Unit.

"Kids are jumping on this very quickly."

Marijuana oil is inserted into an e-cigarette cartridge, and produces
minimal odour.

This is no doubt, say officers, a draw for teens.

The oil contains higher levels of THC - tetrahydrocannabinol, the
chemical that produces a euphoric feeling - contents of the oil are
higher than 90 per cent.

It's said to create a high that's more than 10 times that of smoking
an ordinary joint.

Officers have been working closely with schools to increase their
knowledge on the devices, and what to look for.

"We don't want these things in our schools. We want our kids to be
able to get a good education and do it in a safe and caring
environment," said Rosnau.

Rosnau adds that within the past week two students in Colorado, where
marijuana is legal, have died through the consumption of edible marijuana.

But it's not just the smoke itself that's posing a concern for law
enforcement, they say the extraction of the oil from the marijuana
plant is a process that's proved to carry fatal results in the past.

To extract the THC and produce hash oil, cookers boil the hash oil or
use a solvent.

The leaves are coated in isopropyl alcohol or butane gas, which are
both extremely flammable.

Members with the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) say the
number of 'extraction labs' have increased sharply,

Last year, one man was killed and another seriously injured when a
home lab exploded in Evansburg, Alberta.

The house was completely levelled, said Act. Staff Sgt. Pierre Blais,
with ALERT.

Colorado has also seen a huge jump in the number of extraction-related
explosions compared to years prior to marijuana legalization.

It makes it all the more apparent that now is time to act on this
dangerous trend, says Rosnau.

"This is a very real threat and we're just starting to see this and
starting to address it," he said.

"We want to get out in front of it."

*

[sidebar]

'Vaping' facts:

* Marijuana oil can be consumed in various ways, including smoking,
oral (eating) and vaporization.

* "Vaping," inhaled through electronic cigarettes or "E-Cigs," is
becoming prevalent in Edmonton.

* Marijuana oil can be the most potent form of cannabis because of its
high THC content and purest form.

* Standard marijuana (10%-20% THC); marijuana oil (30%-90%).

* "E-Cigs," which are odourless or often scented with fruit flavours,
are being used by youth in public places.

* An electronic cigarette is a battery-powered device, which simulates
tobacco smoking by producing a vapour that resembles smoke.
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