Editorial: Spectre of Kronic back to haunt us

There was much pompous nodding and satisfied shuffling by a few politicians a few months back after the synthetic cannabis product Kronic was taken off shelves where previously it had been widely available to over 18-year-olds.

The product had simply appeared on the shelves one day after some entrepreneurial bloke realised there was absolutely nothing out there in legislation or health and safety land to stop it.

No need to have it tested before marketing and selling (the way they test children's toys from the east) so no need to get permission.

But after many months, and many disturbing reported reactions some had suffered, the medical fraternity rightly began asking, "Do you really think we should be selling this stuff when its equally potent but natural cousin is illegal?"

The wheels of change began to turn ... albeit very slowly. Legislation to outlaw or restrict this substance would be introduced ... one day.

Well, as it transpired, the legislation was brought in remarkably quickly ... I daresay as the outcry against Kronic was getting louder and there was an election on the horizon.

The substance got its marching orders, along with others that had ingredients and levels banned by the Government, back in August.

Now some may have stepped back and nodded along with those who vowed to stamp it out and reckoned it was a relief that finally something had been done.

They nodded too soon. Because, effectively, nothing was done.

Because it appears you can still bring stuff in to produce legal "highs" without any pre-sales testing requirements.

There are synthetic cannabis products back on the shelves - remarketed, remixed and renamed.

I find it remarkable that whatever rules these products must allegedly adhere to are so flaky.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has said he would "urgently" look into one of the new synthetic cannabinoids on the market to see if they need banning.

I'm sure I've heard that before ...

Look, mate, either give this stuff the green light or the red light. Simply ensure such products are tested before they hit the shelves, not as an afterthought.

And can someone explain how an 18-year-old can buy six 330ml bottles of a certain brand of bourbon and dry advertised this week for a mere dollar each (or $6 for six) whereas six bottles of low-alcohol beer costs $12.99? That's really addressing drinking among the young.