Kronic stock-up call sparks fears

A toxicologist fears a Kronic "lolly scramble" and an increase in poisonings after the company behind the synthetic cannabis product urged its customers to stock up before a ban took effect next week.

Yesterday, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne confirmed it would be illegal to manufacture, import, export, sell or supply 16 synthetic cannabinoids from next Wednesday.

Those cannabinoids can be found in 43 synthetic cannabis products at present on the market, including the popular brand Kronic, and it would effectively classify them the equivalent of a class C1 drug.

On its website, the company behind Kronic reminded consumers the product "will remain legal to possess and use, but will be illegal to sell".

"That means you can have as much Kronic as you want stashed away to beat the blues and you should stock up right now!"

Leo Schep, of the Dunedin-based National Poisons Centre, said the promotion was a desperate and dangerous ploy from a company trying to dump its stock on the market.

'You are now seeing the lolly scramble stage," he told the Otago Daily Times.

Dr Schep said consumers would either ration their supply or take too much of the product, which was expected to result in a "spike of calls" to the poisons centre.

It was possible the companies behind the products would introduce new synthetic cannabis products containing analogues not already gazetted, or other non-cannabinoid products.

Mr Dunne dared those in the legal high industry planning to introduce new products to "make my day".

"We have got this covered. Any new unproven product will get the same treatment.

"The industry needs to get the message - the game is over. You have not behaved responsibly at any point and we have taken matters out of your hands."

The temporary 12-month drug notices gazetted yesterday will give experts a chance to assess listed substances so as to advise whether long-term controls should be placed on them.

Introduced in Parliament last week, the changes were an interim measure to allow further legislation which puts the onus of proof on manufacturers and distributors.

Outspoken legal high advocate Matt Bowden announced he and his company would no longer be involved in the importation and manufacturing of synthetic cannabinoid products.

"The Government's decision to ban synthetic cannabinoids will send the legal high industry to a place I don't want to go," he said.

- hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz