Selina Iglesias
Greene Publishing, Inc.
K2. Spice. Black Mamba. Skunk. Red X.
Whatever the nickname, it seems like every year there is yet another warning about the use of synthetic marijuana. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that in 2015, 15 people died after using synthetic marijuana, three times as many as the same period in 2014. Most recently, on July 15 of this year, an estimated 130 people overdosed on synthetic marijuana in New York City.
Most commonly called “K2,” it first became available to the United States in 2008 and is frequently marketed in colorful three ounce pouches, nicknamed “poison packets,” that target young adults. K2 is nothing like traditional marijuana and instead is a mixture of roughly 450 industrial chemicals intended to mimic the effects of THC, an active compound found in marijuana. Identified compounds include HU-210, CP 47, 497 and homologues, JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-398, JWH-250 and oleamide.
Most public health experts frown on the phrase “synthetic marijuana” because they think it overstates the extent to which the chemicals used to make it resemble THC. They prefer the term “synthetic cannabinoids.”
In basic terms, K2 is made by spraying man-made chemicals onto leaves that can be smoked. Little is known of the pharmacological profile of the chemicals found in K2 or their by-products.
Many may think K2 is safe and non-toxic, but case reports and surveys have pinpointed serious toxicities that can occur with the use of K2. Those who use K2 ingest it in a similar manner to marijuana. It is either smoked alone in a joint or other device, such as a pipe or a bong; rolled in with a tobacco or marijuana joint; baked into foods, such as brownies or made into tea.
The psychological effects of K2 are similar to those of marijuana and include paranoia, panic attacks, elevated mood, relaxation and altered perception. In addition, there are other side effects such as rapid heart rate, vomiting, agitation and hallucinations, according to The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. It can also affect users' body's ability to function, which could lead to kidney failure, heart attacks and seizures.
According to a study, there were 456 synthetic marijuana hospitalizations from 2010 to 2015 by the CDC and three deaths were recorded during that period.
K2 was first introduced in the 1990's by a chemist in South Carolina by the name of John W. Huffman. Huffman began researching artificial ways to mimic THC in order to research the therapeutic effects and was somewhat successful, as one of the compounds he created was proven to help non-melanoma skin cancer and brain tumors in mice.
Although K2 is banned in the U.S., it is constantly available to the public. It has been difficult for the government to regulate K2, because its formula is always being altered. These new variations are technically legal to sell, distribute and use, as there have been several ways to work around the law. For years, manufacturers were able to fly under the radar by labeling the packets “not for human consumption” and selling it as potpourri. Since illness and use have reached troubling levels, states such as New Hampshire, New York and New Jersey are now attempting to regulate the drug, but it's by no means gone.
Researchers who figured out how to make synthetic marijuana, released their findings in scientific journals, making it easy for illicit manufacturers to learn how to create their own products.
Escalating that problem is cost. A joint of K2 can cost as little as a dollar, making it easy to acquire by high school students and even the homeless population.
Madison County Sheriff Ben Stewart is aware of issues with K2 in Madison County and commented that there have been several arrests made due to possession of K2.
Sgt. Bobby Boatwright, who is a part of the Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force, stated that K2 is a huge issue in Madison County, though the drug is called many different names throughout the area. There have been many arrests in the county due to the possession of K2.
One memorable arrest was that of Calvin Bruton, 36, of Madison, in January of this year. Bruton had 6.67 pounds of K2, in addition to 3.72 pounds of marijuana, among other items and was charged with possession of synthetic marijuana and possession with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a childcare facility, possession of over 20 grams of marijuana, possession of over three grams of synthetic marijuana and much more.
“Once Bruton was arrested, [the issue of K2] was shut down,” said Boatwright.
Normally, according to Boatwright, those who sell K2 do it by mail, through FedEx or UPS packaging. This is possible because, as stated before, nothing is regulated with the drug itself – once something is deemed illegal, a certain chemical within the deadly concoction is altered.
However, Boatwright assures that the MCSO does everything they can to keep K2 and other drugs out of the county. “We've been on top of it, so it hasn't been prevalent,” said Boatwright.
The Madison Police Department hasn't made any recent arrests regarding K2, according to Sgt. Chris Cooks, but as said before, it is an issue within Madison.
While federal officials are working to eliminate K2, it is imperative that the public be educated on the dangers of K2. Parents, guidance counselors, teachers and other adults the youth can trust should sit down and have a talk about the dangers of drug use. For tips on having this discussion with your children, visit www.drugabuse.gov.