Synthetic Marijuana” title=”Spice_drug” width=”800″ height=”599″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-50655″ />Synthetic Marijuana – New herbal substance in JP raises questions about legality
Synthetic Marijuana is a psychoactive herbal and chemical product that, when consumed, mimics the effects of cannabis. It is best known by the brand names K2 and Spice, both of which have largely become genericized trademarks used to refer to any Synthetic Marijuana product. (It is also for this reason that Synthetic Marijuana is often referred to as spice product, due to the latter.) A type of Synthetic Marijuana sold in Australasia is known as Kronic.
Research on the safety of Synthetic Marijuana is only now becoming available. Initial studies are focused on the role of Synthetic Marijuana and psychosis. It seems likely that Synthetic Marijuana can precipitate psychosis and in some cases it is prolonged. These studies suggest that synthetic cannabinoid intoxication is associated with acute psychosis, worsening of previously stable psychotic disorders, and also may have the ability to trigger a chronic (long-term) psychotic disorder among vulnerable individuals such as those with a family history of mental illness.
When Synthetic Marijuana blends first went on sale in the early 2000s, it was thought that they achieved an effect through a mixture of legal herbs. Laboratory analysis in 2008 showed that this is not the case, and that they in fact contain synthetic cannabinoids that act on the body in a similar way to cannabinoids naturally found in cannabis, such as THC. A large and complex variety of synthetic cannabinoids, most often cannabicyclohexanol, JWH-018, JWH-073, or HU-210, are used in an attempt to avoid the laws that make cannabis illegal, making synthetic cannabis a designer drug. It has been sold under various brand names, online, in head shops, and at some gas stations.
It is often marketed as “herbal incense”; however, some brands market their products as “herbal smoking blends”. In either case, the products are usually smoked by users. Although Synthetic Marijuana does not produce positive results in drug tests for cannabis, it is possible to detect its metabolites in human urine. The synthetic cannabinoids contained in Synthetic Marijuana products have been made illegal in many European countries. On November 24, 2010, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced it would use emergency powers to ban many synthetic cannabinoids within a month.[5] Prior to the announcement, several US states had already made them illegal under state law. As of March 1, 2011, five cannabinoids, JWH-018, JWH-073, CP-47,497, JWH-200, and cannabicyclohexanol are now illegal in the US because these substances have the potential to be extremely harmful and, therefore, pose an imminent hazard to the public safety.
JEFFERSON, La. – In large letters, POW Reloaded, a “botanical sachet,” is advertised across a storefront on Veterans Boulevard in Metairie. It’s the Rob Shop’s newest location. Another location, on West Metairie Avenue, has the same display.
It’s raising questions about how POW works and whether it’s legal. Law enforcement officials said the name has been used for synthetic marijuana, a powerful substance that can send users to the emergency room.
“It’s certainly much much more dangerous than the natural form, I mean we never see people coming in for a marijuana overdose, but we see all sorts for this synthetic marijuana,” said Dr. Brian Dehart, emergency room physic an at West Jefferson Medical Center.
Two West Jefferson High School students were hospitalized Thursday after smoking synthetic marijuana in a parking area near the school, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Officials said one teen was found vomiting, and the other was passed out.
“I’m thinking those young kids probably weren’t used to doing anything like that and it just overwhelmed them,” said Dehart.
That instance has not been linked directly to POW. The Rob Shop’s Facebook page claims the botanical sachets are DEA compliant. Off camera, employees said the substance is legal but not meant for human consumption. Instead, they said, it’s meant to be used as potpourri because it has a pleasant smell. Still, employees refused to let Eyewitness News buy a sachet.
The owner of the Rob Shop refused an interview. Employees locked the doors of both Metairie stores after Eyewitness News arrived outside.
“These clients appear to be conscientious in their efforts not to break the law,” said Ben Bagert, an attorney for the Rob Shop. “They’ve taken steps to engage reputable chemists with formidable resumes from renowned universities… to make sure what they’re selling isn’t illegal.”
Bagert did not say which chemists were tasked with testing the substances.
Troy Hebert, head of the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, said it’s impossible to know whether over the counter herbs are illegal without proper testing.
Now that legislature has outlawed forms of synthetic marijuana, authorities are cracking down. The ATC suspended liquor licenses of four convenience stores selling substances that tested positive for synthetic marijuana at the state crime lab last month in the Baton Rouge area, said Hebert. And the statewide investigation continues.
According to Hebert, The “high” from synthetic marijuana often comes from chemicals sprayed onto potpourri. Hebert said it can take 30 to 60 days to receive test results from the state crime lab, because there is a back log.
Bill & Sheila’s A-Z of herbs
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