Synthetic marijuana a hot topic at drug presentation

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Synthetic marijuana a hot topic at drug presentation

JP Banks, director of the Drug Free Coalition of Hall County, opens a community meeting on marijuana and its synthetic version at the Hall County School Board. Other speakers in the front row are, from left, Hall County Solicitor General Stephanie Woodard, GBI lab chemical section manager Nelly Miles, licensed professional counselor and master addiction counselors Kristi Satterfield and Patti Carter Shipp, both of Laurelwood Hospital. Forty-one people attended. - photo by NAT GURLEY

0816DRUGS 3 — JP Banks, director of the Drug Free Coalition of Hall County, opens a community meeting on marijuana and its synthetic version at the Hall County School Board. Other speakers in the front row are, from left, Hall County Solicitor General Stephanie Woodard, GBI lab chemical section manager Nelly Miles, licensed professional counselor and master addiction counselors Kristi Satterfield and Patti Carter Shipp, both of Laurelwood Hospital. Forty-one people attended. - photo by NAT GURLEY

Carly Sharec

Updated: Aug 16, 2013, 4:22 AM

Published: Aug 16, 2013, 4:27 AM

Derek Crum, 19, stood in front of a rapt audience Thursday evening as he shared his story of drug addiction. “I just wanted parents to be able to see from my testimony how it develops,” Crum said. Crum’s addiction started with marijuana, which then led to use of synthetic marijuana, bath salts and other hallucinogens.

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