SYNTHETIC CANNABIS EFFECTS 'BIZARRE'

The police have noticed some "bizarre" behaviour from people in
Blenheim who say they have smoked synthetic cannabis, such as Kronic.

Staff at Wairau Hospital, in Blenheim, have also treated several young
people with raised heart rate, nausea, stomach pain and anxiety, which
can be symptoms of synthetic cannabis use.

However, none had openly admitted using Kronic.

The stories come a day after synthetic cannabinoid product Pineapple
Express, sold under the Kronic brand, was recalled by the Ministry of
Health, because it contains the prescription medicine phenazepam.

Associate Minister of Health Peter Dunne said a similar product was
also being investigated.

Within a few weeks, the Government will restrict the sale and
marketing of products such as those containing synthetic cannabinoids
in amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Kronic manufacturer Lightyears Ahead said it believed the product was
contaminated and it planned to investigate the cause.

The company did not intend the product to contain phenazepam and did
not know it was there.

Wairau Hospital emergency department clinical nurse manager Sharon
North said she would support any move to regulate the products.

Community constable Russ Smith, of Blenheim, said stories from
officers included a case where the police were called to a home in the
country several weeks ago, because a man in his early 20s was paranoid
and hyperactive.

"He was taken to Wairau Hospital because he was hyperventilating and
seemed as if he had overdosed. The only thing he said he had taken was
synthetic cannabis."

Although the synthetic substitutes were legal, the police still had
options to deal with people they suspected smoking it. These included
holding the person in a police cell to detoxify, calling for medical
help and putting drivers through drugs tests.

The police knew of three or four stores in Marlborough selling Kronic
and other synthetic cannabis brands, he said.

Only one of the dairies visited by the Marlborough Express in
Blenheim, Picton and Renwick this week sold Kronic. Another one had
sold out and was not reordering the product.

Xiang Lin, owner of the Tip Top Store on the corner of Scott St and
Muller Rd, said he had been given Kronic sample stock and advertising
posters by the distributors a few months ago.

He had sold out and was not ordering more because he was worried about
losing any refund if the product was banned, he said.

Andy Hall, owner of specialty store Boots 'N' All in Blenheim, sold
Kronic and similar smoking blends and said many of his customers who
smoked cannabis had switched to the legal highs.

Using synthetic cannabinoids such as Kronic was safe when taken in the
recommended dose and the effects wore off within hours, he said.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

Pupils are driving under the influence of Kronic because it is
undetectable and legal, they have told principals.

Secondary Principals' Association of New Zealand president Patrick
Walsh said as many as five principals had told him pupils had claimed
this was why they were using the synthetic cannabis product. He
understood it was a lot harder to detect synthetic cannabis products
than the real drug or alcohol.

Police National Headquarters road policing inspector Rob Morgan said
although it was not an offence to drive while using Kronic, impairment
could lead to offences like dangerous driving.