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Kronic, a legal high - Source: Close Up -
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Synthetic cannabis products such as Kronic are "killing the kids", a drug addiction counsellor says.
Tom Claunch told TV ONE's Breakfast that in the past two months his addiction clinic had treated seven young people whose lives were "going down the tubes" because of the products.
And Claunch said self regulation of the industry was a nonsense akin to "putting a pervert in charge of the Sunday school picnic".
Claunch has called for Kronic and other brands to be banned, saying they were "gateway" drugs.
"It is an easy step from Kronic or cannabis to P, which is one of our big killer drugs," Claunch said.
The Government banned two brands of legal highs last week after they were found to contain the prescription medicine, phenazepam, which can be harmful to some people.
The drug, usually prescribed for anxiety, was found in Juicy Puff Super Strength and Kronic Pineapple Express.
Both products are now illegal to buy, sell, use or possess without a doctor's prescription.
Facing increasing public scrutiny of the products, eight retailers and manufacturers of synthetic cannabis met yesterday and agreed to adopt self regulation in a bid to clean up the industry.
Synthetic cannabis importer Matt Bowden, who attended yesterday's meeting, claimed on TV ONE's Close Up last night that the Kronic Pineapple Express was sabotaged and contaminated with the anti-anxiety medicine phenazepam.
Bowden said the products were "not as dangerous as alcohol" and that "with these products (synthetic cannabis) we're not having fatalities".
The push for self-regulation drew further sharp response from Claunch who said "you wouldn't put the fox in charge of the henhouse".
"This Kronic and the other cannabis-like drugs are killing our kids," Claunch, the co-founder of the Auckland based Capri Hospital, told Breakfast.
"The substance itself is what is dangerous. It is a mood changing, mild-altering drug."
Claunch said he had received about 50 phone calls from concerned parents in the past few months asking if it was safe to use the products.
Currently, authorities have to prove such products are unsafe before they can be taken off the shelves.
Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has said the current system, which requires clear evidence that the products are not safe before they are removed from sale, takes too long and is easy for manufacturers to get around.
Current legislation means it is illegal to sell synthetic cannabis products to people aged under 18.
The Government says it will still go ahead with law changes in the next few weeks to restrict the sale and marketing of synthetic cannabis products.
What do you think about the products? Have your say on the messageboard below.
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Add a Comment:
Post new comment1600nz said on 2011-08-07 @ 13:35 NZDT: Report abusive post
It's far too dangerous to be legalised. It's worse than pot. You can't just legalise something because it's difficult to enforce. Also if you did legalise it, it would spin out of control. How could you restrict the use and rate of consumption!
Lus7 said on 2011-08-04 @ 21:19 NZDT: Report abusive post
This is retarded, we should just leglaise, regulate and tax drugs. That way we wouldn't be wasting a ridiculous amount of tax payers dollars, cause unnecessary disrespect for law/police/politicians, and no divert police resources away from where they are really needed (like NZ high crime rate. fight gangs not non violent pot smokers)
Wasserman said on 2011-08-04 @ 20:54 NZDT: Report abusive post
I have read through all of the comments on this messageboard and I am struck by one thing; the consistently intelligent and well reasoned arguments that are put forward in almost every case. And yet when Peter Dunne and the other politicians congratulate themselves with a few gins and perhaps a fag or two, they will smugly and sanctimoniously tell themselves they are protecting us from drugs. What appalling hypocrisy! And they wonder why we hold them in such contempt.
Mental Kalesthetics said on 2011-07-12 @ 01:13 NZDT: Report abusive post
And there is a solution that would put kronic out of business, save millions of dolars, create sustainable growth for New Zealand for years to come. Mum and dad would know what Fred and George have wraped in paper and are sparking up that hasn't been sprayed with chemically synthesised cannaboids. And FYI Mum and Dad.. kids can smoke Kronic etc in their rooms and since it doesn't smell like pot you don't even know they're high. Just legalise and regulate pot
Rustydog said on 2011-07-07 @ 15:37 NZDT: Report abusive post
Tom Claunch stop talking rubbish Kronic and Cannabis are not gateway drugs to "P" its an individual choice to do "P" not anything else Kronic and Cannabis have nothing to do with it. It's the weak minded people who use these drugs as a crutch to get by in every day life then blame the drugs for the things that go wrong in there life that are to blame not the Kronic or Cannabis people need to start take responsibility for there own actions not blame others or the drugs!!!