Legal high attracts overseas high schoolers

International high school students are getting a kick out of easily accessed highs.

International high school students come to New Zealand because of its world-leading education system and natural beauty – yeah right.

A growing number of students say New Zealand is their first choice to study because of its reputation to grow the best marijuana and its “legal weed” Kronic.

Sixteen-year-old Brazilian student Monica says 10 per cent of her decision to study in New Zealand was based on the fact that she wanted to try “the world’s best marijuana”. “Other students that visited New Zealand told me that I had to try it when I’m here,” she says. “It is no surprise that students smoke. When you google images of New Zealand in Brazil, you find only pictures of marijuana.”

Shortly after her arrival in New Zealand, Monica smoked pot for the first time. “I prefer Kronic though. You feel…. relaxed and happy. You laugh about anything and you feel like a super woman,” she says. “It’s good because it’s legal and you can buy it whenever you want.”

Kronic has been a legal high for a decade, but has only gained media attention over the past two years.

The drug contains herbal substances with the same effect as marijuana. It is manufactured in New Zealand, but the location is unknown.

Kronic is restricted to people 18 years and older, but many underage students like Monica get their hands on it.

Monica says she gets Kronic joints at parties.“This way I don’t have to buy it,” she says. “But it’s so cheap anyway.”

A Kronic joint costs about $20 and is available from dairies.

Products range from ‘pineapple express’, ‘skunk’, ‘tropical explosion’ (‘get high on island time’) and ‘purple haze for a social blaze’ to ‘wicked smoke’ (potent incense).

Sixteen-year-old Marcelo smoked Kronic on his first day in New Zealand. “I thought it looks good and I’ve heard so much about it,” he says.

Brazilian student Tainara, 16, also came to New Zealand with the intention to smoke both illegal and legal substances. “It was not part of my decision to come here, but I knew when I’m in New Zealand, I’m gonna try it,” she says. “Why not?” she asks. “I smoked marijuana before.”

At 14, Tainara smoked marijuana for the first time. “It is easier buying Kronic than buying alcohol. It only costs you $10 to get crazy.”

The company that produces Kronic strictly advises not to consume excess alcohol when smoking a Kronic joint. “Beer before grass – you’re on your ass”, says the smoking tip on the package.

It further says that Kronic may cause “extreme munchies” and recommends chips, chocolate, lollies and “lots of ice-cream”.

According to Cosmic Corner, a High St store that specialises in legal highs, Kronic sales picked up enormously last year.

The store’s sales assistant says: “Kronic sells so well, sales have doubled in the past 18 months.”

Due to Kronic’s popularity, the drug’s product display has changed drastically in dairies – from ordinary shelving next to cigarettes to Kronic products now having their individual glass cabinet.

An Auckland dairy owner agrees, saying “the company gave us glass shelves with fancy lights to increase sales further”.

Rebecca MacKenzie works with international students and cannot believe that Kronic is legal.“It’s crazy that it’s legal. I don’t think it will be like that for long though. But it probably will take something big to get rid of it.”

MacKenzie says causing an accident and then using the legality of Kronic as defense in court may be one of the reasons to end the legal high.

Juliana Varela, who also works with overseas students doing tours around the country, says it is difficult to deal with 18-year-old students smoking Kronic during holiday trips. “They ask me ‘Why can’t we smoke Kronic? It’s legal and we are 18. We can buy cigarettes – why not Kronic?’” she says.

Students in the past have been sent back to their homestay from holiday tours because of smoking kronic. However, sending them back to their home country is not an option because the drug is legal.

Varela says: “We are responsible for the students and their safety is our main priority. To see them smoke legal drugs is very concerning and I hope kronic will be illegal soon.”

Names of students have been changed.

THIS 'ATTRACTION' HIGHLIGHTED BY EDUVAC IN MAY 2011, AS OF WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST 2011, IS NO LONGER LEGALLY AVAILABLE IN NEW ZEALAND.