Schools are cracking down on Kronic and other forms of synthetic cannabis, amid fears that they are the drug of choice for students who are trying to get past drink-drive checkpoints.

Secondary Principals' Association president Patrick Walsh said legal highs were becoming the preferred drug for school students, "particularly for those who drive".

"They know alcohol or marijuana can be detected but Kronic can't be," he said.

Palmerston North Boys' High removed three students with drugs from its boarding facilities last week and the school's rector, Tim O'Connor, said legalised party drugs would be added to the school's list of prohibited substances. One student was caught with the legal high Rasta's Ganja, while two others had marijuana.

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People with physical disabilities or speech impediments could be unfairly netted as part of new a law to test drivers for drugs, a Northland disability advocate says.

Under the Land Transport Amendment Bill which comes into force on December 1, police can decide whether a driver is under the influence of drugs by carrying out a compulsory impairment test.

If the test shows a driver is impaired, it will be followed with a blood test to determine whether drugs are present. If the blood specimen shows the presence of a controlled drug or prescription medicine, the driver may be charged with the new offence of driving while impaired.

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