Marijuana Imposter: "People who use it are idiots"

Many of those “idiots” however are children.   Synthetic Marijuana, marketed in brightly colored packaging labeled, ‘Spice’, ‘K2’, ‘Yukan Fire’,’ Blaze’, ‘Blueberry Haze’, ’Demon Passion Smoke’, ‘Genie’ and about 100 other innocuous names is legal in more than 40 states across America, and has no age restrictions for the buyer.

More truthfully descriptive names would be ‘Brain Killer’, ‘Seizure High’, ‘ER’ or ‘Russian Roulette’.
 
According to Dr. John Huffman, an organic chemistry research professor at Clemson University, “the synthetic cannabinoids used in the drug were discovered in his lab 15 years ago by an undergraduate student and have never been studied on humans.”

"[Using synthetic marijuana] is analogous to playing Russian roulette," said Huffman. "We don't know anything about its toxicity. We don't know anything about its pharmacokinetics … in other words, how long it lasts in the body, how long it takes to be metabolized." Huffman adds, “the fake counterpart is more potent than the actual plant.  People who use it are idiots."

Listed under  "Drugs and Chemicals of Concern", the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, side effects of using the drug have been reported to include hallucinations, vomiting, increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, short-term paralysis, memory loss and reduced mental functioning.
 
Some side effects, including agitation, anxiety, an extremely fast, racing heartbeat and elevated blood pressure – are the opposite of what would be expected from marijuana, which is a cause for additional concern.

In a report from the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC), poison centers in Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Wyoming have been among those reporting calls regarding synthetic marijuana.

Sold in various flavors in 3-gram bags, the product consists of herbs that are sprayed with synthetic substances that mimic THC, the high-causing natural chemical found in marijuana.  Marketed as bath salts, incense, potpourri and herbal therapy it is sold in novelty shops, smoke shops, gas stations, pharmacies and online.

K2 – synthetic marijuana has been banned in Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and most recently Missouri. 

State Representative Ward Franz said, “It’s like a tidal wave.  It’s almost an epidemic.  We’re seeing middle-school kids walking into stores and buying it.”

Missouri mom ‘Pam’ said, “I didn’t know my 12 year old could walk into a store at the mall and buy a dangerous drug LEGALLY, that would end up with an ambulance ride to the emergency room.  I thought it was a harmless bag of potpourri.”

"Poison centers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to answer questions about K2 or any other substance that could be harmful to your health," he said. "These poison centers are staffed with medical professionals who are trained to know the impact of a substance and how to treat a poison exposure."

The American Association of Poison Control Centers supports the nation's poison control centers. Poison centers offer free and confidential services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For questions about poison or poison prevention, call your local poison control center at 1 (800) 222-1222.

Laura Lamp King