NOT ON OUR WATCH: A group of Napier residents, Tom Seymour, left, Kathy Gemmell, Minnie Ratima and Karanema Timu, are trying to deter youngsters from buying the dangerous synthetic cannabis K2 in their neighbourhood.

A group of Napier parents are forming a "Nanny Brigade" to protest outside stores they believe are still selling the controversial party drug K2.

The drug, which is legal, caused concerns last year after its use was linked to paranoia, psychosis, vomiting and a racing heart rate.

Maraenui Dairy came under fire when The Dominion Post revealed the shop was giving out lollies with sales of the synthetic cannabinoid.

Dairy owner Harry Bei eventually bowed to pressure and agreed to stop stocking K2, as did Kools Chicken takeaway.

But Maraenui mother Minnie Ratima said both stores were still selling to regular users, which was contributing to local teenagers becoming addicted.

"They're denying it ... but we know they still are selling it to regular users."

She believed the shops bought the K2 for $8 and sold it for $20.

"They've no intention of stopping it, not when they can make $12 a packet. It's a money-making business for them but it's at the expense of our kids."

Both stores said yesterday that they no longer sold K2. However, people on the street told The Dominion Post that regular users were still buying the drug from the shops.

Ms Ratima vowed to sit outside the shops with the Nanny Brigade during trading hours and ask people to take their business elsewhere.

More than 50 people had put their hands up to help, she said.

The Nanny Brigade would be outside the Maraenui shops once it had organised how it would monitor the stores.

"I can see it working, so I'm quite excited, and so are the other mothers that are having problems with their kids."

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne banned a substance found in K2 products, known as EAM-2201, in December. A modified version is now being sold.

Regulations on selling legal highs are expected to tighten this year. Mr Dunne is pushing for a tougher regime to become law by mid-year.