By Dan Satherley
Scientists who found traces of phenazepam in synthetic weed product Kronic say pro-cannabis campaigners are lying about their results.
This afternoon the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party issued a press release claiming ESR testing had shown no trace of the drug phenazepam in Kronic.
"We have been played," says Kronic owner Matt Wielenga . "Our overseas analysis and ESR test results have just come back showing that there is no contamination what so ever in Pineapple Express."
"The Kronic tested by the Ministry [of Health] was either deliberately contaminated or falsely claimed to contain phenazepam in the lead up to the law change.
This claim has been rejected by ESR scientists, who say their testing definitely showed traces of phenazepam, a drug used to control neurological disorders.
"Contrary to certain recent reports, ESR reaffirms that testing undertaken by ESR established the presence of phenazepam 'contamination' in samples of two branded synthetic cannabis products being sold in NZ, including 'Kronic Pineapple Express'," says Dr Keith Bedford.
"ESR testing has also shown that the active, synthetic additives in such products, including those found in 'Kronic Pineapple Express', can be variable. Other batches of 'Kronic Pineapple Express' do not necessarily contain phenazepam and may contain a different mix of active ingredients which is one of the issues of concern with such products."
Parliament last night voted to temporarily ban synthetic cannabis, 104-5.
Earlier today, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne admitted he smoked cannabis a couple of times in the 1970s.
3 News
source: newshub archive
