Kronic sedative can put users in coma

Photo / APN

The strong prescription-only sedative found in a blend of synthetic cannabis can lead to severe drowsiness and even coma when mixed with alcohol.

Yesterday, Kronic's Pineapple Express blend was pulled off shelves after Director-General of Health Kevin Woods revealed it contained a benzodiazepine called phenazepam.

Dr Leo Schep of the National Poisons Centre said smoking three or more joints of Pineapple Express would give a large enough dosage of phenazepam to have considerable effects if combined with alcohol.

"I'm not sure if it would get to the stage of respiratory repression. But it would definitely knock you out.

"We know what happens with a benzo and alcohol ... but we have no idea predicting what will happen with the added ingredient of these synthetic cannabinoids."

Dr Schep told the Otago Daily Times he was "appalled these cowboys" were inserting the drug into their synthetic cannabis product and selling it.

"I am exasperated ... shocked, that they willy nilly put in other chemicals to increase psychotropic effects on the user ... and they have no idea of the dose.

"It ought not to be in a smoking material."

Contributors to drug forums on the internet warn others not to smoke phenazepam, with even 1mg causing problems among users.

Ministry of Health officials yesterday met Lightyears Ahead, the company behind Kronic, and said they would investigate further before making any decision on prosecutions.

Penalties for a breach of the Medicines Act 1981 include a company fine of $100,000, or six months in jail and a fine of $20,000 for an individual.

The presence of phenazepam was first suspected during a screening test last month, and confirmed by subsequent tests.

Lightyears Ahead said Pineapple Express was not meant to contain phenazepam, and it was unaware the blend did. The company has previously referred to the blend as "our greatest creation" which is "fast-acting and strong-hitting".

It said the presence of the prescription medicine was a "contamination", and at 300 parts per million it was a "small amount".

Former party pill king Matt Bowden imports the synthetic cannabinoid compounds used to make Kronic's products. His company, Stargate Operations, released a statement denying knowledge of the sedative in Pineapple Express.

But Dr Schep said every joint of Pineapple Express would deliver about 60 per cent of a normal therapeutic dose of phenazepam.

"That is not a contaminant, I'm sorry."

Zaid Musa, the director of Enjoi Products, which has manufactured synthetic cannabis products Illusion and Amsterdam Cafe since 2005, was sceptical of Kronic's response.

"Anything you make, you know what you're putting in there ... Yes, we do know what we're importing."

Environmental Science and Research (ESR) has identified 43 synthetic cannabis products and screened about half of them so far.

Another product is being investigated for the presence of a prescription medicine.

Dr Keith Bedford, ESR's general manager of forensic research, said the finding was unexpected

He added that another product, which is not produced by the maker of Kronic, was likely to contain phenazepam but more research was required.

WHAT IS PHENAZEPAM?
* A strong prescription benzodiazepine, or sedative, produced in Russia and some other former USSR countries.
* Normally used to treat disorders such as epilepsy, drug withdrawal and anxiety disorders.
* Effects greatly pronounced when combined with alcohol, which in extreme cases can lead to respiratory repression or even coma.
* Little is known about drug's effects when combined with synthetic cannabinoids.
* Very potent and long acting, it is a drug of abuse in many countries.