Kronic still rife

Synthetic cannabis products such as Kronic will remain prevalent in Port Hedland despite being made illegal last week, locals say.

Synthetic cannabinoids have been added to WA’s Poisons Act, putting people caught with the products at risk of hefty fines and possible jail.

But a BHP Billiton Iron Ore contractor, who did not want to be named, said the ban would just make it worse.

“I’d say about half our workshop have certainly had a try of (Kronic),” the contractor said.

“Until recently most people were getting it from the liquor store, but now it’s been banned there were a few people that have bought it in bulk and they’re just selling it on the sly.

“There are a couple of people that are quite pissed off that it’s been delegalised but more people that do it are determined to chase it up anyway.”

While he knew of “a handful” that use Kronic regularly, the contractor said there were not many that used it after they had tried it the first time because

of the mixed results that they were getting from it.

“Some were getting an effect like they were taking acid, some were getting the normal effect like they were smoking normal weed, but some people were just flipping out completely,” he said.

North West Liquor co-owner and past Port Hedland mayor Brent Rudler said he was not bothered by the ban on Kronic, which was sold at the store before it was made illegal.

Co-owners of the store declined to comment on the ban on Kronic, which is understood to have had a substantial market.

South Hedland Police Sen. Sgt Peter Pope said police hadn’t come across anyone with Kronic or cannabis since the ban had come in place.

“Bearing in mind it’s only been a couple of days since the ban,” he said.

“It is now a banned substance and we’ll treat it like any other banned substance should we find anyone in possession of it.”

A planned Kronic party at a government-funded venue in Perth where users were initially encouraged to smoke their remaining stash was cancelled at the last minute on Thursday.

The flyer for the show offered a prize for the biggest Kronic spliff rolled.