Community Awareness: Synthetic Marijuana “The Story of K2 Spice”

K2 Spice in the News CBS News AIRED MAY

What is Synthetic Marijuana? Dried herbal blend (dried/crushed/chopped botanicals) that is sprayed with an analgesic chemical, such as JWH-018 or JWH- 073 When smoked, produces a “high” similar to marijuana Does not contain tetrahydrocannabibnol (THC), the psychoactive chemical in marijuana Often given fruity flavor; such as blueberry, strawberry, grape, etc.

Where Did it Come From? Several of the chemicals sprayed on the herbal blends (JWH-018, JWH- 073, JWH-200) were produced in a laboratory at Clemson University in 1995 by researcher, John Huffman. The purpose was to study how THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) latched on to receptor sites in the brain. It was never tested on humans and was not meant for human consumption – only for research purposes. Many believe that manufacturers of K2 created and sold the substance for drug use by studying Huffman’s research, published in 1998.

Street Names or Brand Names K2 Spice K2 Summit Genie Fake weed Zohai Black Mamba Red X Zone Orange Dragon Smoke And many more!

Where Is It Sold? K2 Spice and similar products can be purchased at…. Convenience stores Spiritual shops Alternative medicine stores Gas stations On the internet – websites dedicated to selling the product, eBay, etc.

K2 Spice Packaging Sold in small, foil packets or plastic zip bags, approximately 2 by 3 inches. Packages may have phrases written on them, such as: 100% organic herbs Herbal smoking blends Herbal incense Not for human consumption Ingredients not listed on packaging – not regulated!

The Attraction Was very recently a legal product Does not show up on drug screens (unless used within the prior two hours) Easily available Advertised and marketing towards young people Relatively cheap (about the same cost as marijuana, $30-40 per three gram bag)

Symptoms of Using K2 Spice Hallucinations Severe agitation Dangerously elevated heart rate & blood pressure Panic attacks Dilated pupils Very pale skin Vomiting Tremors and seizures (in some cases) Really bad headaches Overdose

Poison Control Center Cases According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, there were 14 cases of K2 exposure in the 48 states plus the District of Columbia in In 2010, that number exploded to 2,888. As of March, 2011, there has already been nearly 1,000.

Long-Term Health Effects Long-term health consequences remain unstudied at this time. However, some resources state that the chemicals sprayed on products such as K2 Spice are addictive and could lead to cancer.

Is K2 Spice Addictive? Studies show that those who ingest K2 compounds exhibit typical drug dependency signs, withdrawal symptoms and addictive behaviors associated with other drug use.

Is K2 Spice Illegal? In a word…..Yes! Synthetic marijuana is now an illegal product both federally (March 2011) and in the State of MI (October 2010) Penalties for use and possession have changed and are continuing to be developed Regardless of penalty, can still be charged and obtain criminal record for possession and/or use Product can be confiscated by authorities Selling is illegal under a different law and holds different penalties

Federal Law The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) ordered 5 chemicals (synthetic cannabinoids) used in K2 Spice into Schedule I on an emergency basis The 5 chemicals: JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-200, CP-47, 497, and cannabicyclohexanol Final order in effect on March 1, 2011 Based on evidence that substances have potential to be harmful and hazardous to public health and safety The manufacture, distribution, dispensation, or possession with intent to possess, import or export…not authorized by or in violation of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)…..is unlawful

What is a Schedule I Drug? The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse. The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use or treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision. Other examples include: heroin, LSD, PCP, crack cocaine

State Law October 1, Public Act 171 of 2010 went into effect Banned the sale, purchase and possession of synthetic marijuana in Michigan. Penalties for violation of the law carry a maximum fine of $2,000 and one year’s imprisonment. December, A package of bills was signed that aimed at eliminating lengthy minimum sentences for minor drug crimes. One of the amendments in the bill lifted the penalties for possessing synthetic marijuana, although it remained illegal February 15, 2011 – The Michigan Senate has unanimously passed a bill reinstating penalties for illegal drugs such as synthetic marijuana. Senate Bill 99

What to Know About Designer Drugs Created or reformulated (if the drug already exists) The molecular structures of drugs are modified To avoid current laws To achieve similar effects as drugs that are illegal Will continue to pop up Can be transient drug abuse trends Be alert to, and aware of, new and emerging designer drugs. Additional example: bath salts

Final Notes Currently, research on this topic is scarce With all new designer drug trends, such as synthetic marijuana, emerging or updated information (such a federal, state, or local laws) is constantly becoming available Stay up to date – continue to do your research

If You Have Concerns about Someone Using K2 Spice For emergency overdose concerns: Call 911. Contact your local poison control center at For additional resources: Visit the American Association of Poison Control Centers website at The Kalamazoo County Mental Health and Substance Abuse Service Crisis Hotline at (888) , 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Family & Children Service, Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCR) at The Community Healing Centers at Call 211, a resources line that is available 24 hours/day for crisis intervention and referral information.

Sources Michigan Department of Community Health, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Administration, Bureau of Substance Abuse and Addiction Service, Fact Sheet K2 Spice, December 2010, Retrieved April 8, Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration. Schedules of Controlled Substances: Temporary Placement of Five Synthetic Cannabinoids into Schedule I, Federal Register, Vol. 76, No. 40, Tuesday, March 1, 2011, Rules and Regulations, p National Drug Court Resource Center, Emerging Issue: Spice, K2 and the problem of Synthetic Cannabinoids, by Paul Cary, July 14, Michigan Safety Network, October 2010, The dangers of K2 Spice, now an illegal substance in Michigan, Retrieved April 8, Iowa Department of Public Health, Synthetic Marijuana Fact Sheet, Retrieved April 8, Illegal drug penalty bill passes Senate, Feb 15, 2011, senate-passes-bill-clarifying-ban-on-illegal-drugs. Retrieved April 21, senate-passes-bill-clarifying-ban-on-illegal-drugs

Sources in the News Wood TV, Illegal drug penalty bill passes Senate, Feb 15, 2011, passes-bill-clarifying-ban-on-illegal-drugs. Retrieved April 21, passes-bill-clarifying-ban-on-illegal-drugs CNN Opinion, K2 poses dangers and should be illegal, by Calvina Fay, March 2, /opinion/fay.ban.k2_1_thc-k2-marijuana?_s=PM:OPINION. Retrieved April 14, /opinion/fay.ban.k2_1_thc-k2-marijuana?_s=PM:OPINION Missourian, Kansas looked at synthetic marijuana’s effect on the brain, by Katy Bergen, February 17, Retrieved April 14, Examiner.com, Spice users showing up in hospitals across Michigan, by Michael Velardo, March 31, Retrieved April 14, ConnectMidMichigan.com, “Oops! Drugs are legal in Michigan” (well kind of), by Kim Russell, February 16, Retrieved April 14, The Post Game, K2 Gains Popularity among Athletes: Similar High as Pot, No Positive Drug Test, by Eric Adelson and Teddy Mitrosilis, March 7, positive-drug-test. Retrieved April 21, positive-drug-test