Schoolboy suspended for Kronic dealing

Photo / Claire Fraser

A 14-year-old Lower Hutt student has been suspended from school for dealing in the synthetic drug Kronic.

Hutt Valley High School principal Ross Sinclair said he had suspended the year 10 pupil for two separate incidents that happened late last month, The Dominion Post reported.

They involved an offer to sell Kronic to a pupil at school, which was rejected, and supply of the product on the way home, Mr Sinclair said.

While it was not illegal for the student to be in possession of Kronic, the board of trustees had the power under the Education Act to ban it.

Kronic, a synthetic drug that mimics the effects of cannabis can be sold legally to people under 18, but Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne is trying to push through the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill, which is expected to restrict sales to those aged 18 or over.

Secondary Principals' Association president Patrick Walsh said several principals had raised concerns at forums, reporting pupils who have used the product suffering nausea and vomiting.

The association met Education Minister Anne Tolley and ministry officials two weeks ago to raise their concerns.

Mr Walsh said the law, which allowed the product to be sold when it had not been tested as safe for consumption, was "perverse and absurd".

- NZPA