'Shatter' drug discovered in Delta home invasion

A recent police incident in the Lower Mainland revealed a relatively new drug being manufactured and made available for sale in the region.

Officers in Delta, B.C. discovered a drug lab making "shatter," a powerful marijuana-derived drug, while responding to what they say was a targeted break-and-enter on the 5200-block of Fourth Avenue on July 27.

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As a precaution, five surrounding homes were evacuated.

Police say three men between 19 and 30 years-old will likely face drug-related charges in connection to the drug lab. They don't believe the incident was gang-related.

Shatter available at Vancouver dispensaries

Shatter is available at marijuana dispensaries in the Lower Mainland. 

"It's a concentrate. It's like marijuana oil or butter, just in a crystallized form" said Corina, an employee at a dispensary in Vancouver.

She said users take a small hit of the potent drug — a dab — which can be inhaled in vapourized form, from a device called a rig. 

"It is definitely a stronger high," she said.

​"A dab hit would be a couple joints — two to five joints, and you get more of a quick, intense high rather than taking your time smoking a joint."

She said shatter is "pretty common" in dispensaries in Vancouver.

"A lot of them will have dab bars where they use shatter butter and oils."

She also said a separate license or prescription isn't necessary to buy it.