Pubdate: Thu, 25 Nov 2010
Source: New York Times (NY)
Page: A26
Copyright: 2010 The New York Times Company
Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/lettertoeditor.html
Website: http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: Jesse McKinley
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/K2

'SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA' CHEMICALS BAN

SAN FRANCISCO -- Reacting to what it called complaints from law 
enforcement and a surge in medical emergencies, the Drug Enforcement 
Administration said on Wednesday that it would ban several chemicals 
used to make so-called synthetic marijuana products, which resemble 
herbs or potpourri but mimic the effects of the drug when smoked.

In a notice published in the Federal Register, the agency said it 
would use its emergency powers to ban possession and sale of five 
synthetic cannaboids whose effects mirror that of 
tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which gives marijuana its potency. 
Those chemicals are used to coat a variety of products which are 
marketed as incense, but have become popular as smokables for those 
seeking a legal high.

Under the action, the five cannaboids will be listed as Schedule I 
substances, the most restrictive category, for at least a year while 
the government studies whether they should be permanently banned.

The temporary action will take at least 30 days to take effect, 
meaning the products will not immediately be illegal. But on 
Wednesday, the acting agency administrator, Michele M. Leonhart, made 
it clear that she believes they are an imminent public safety threat.

"Makers of these harmful products mislead their customers into 
thinking that 'fake pot' is a harmless alternative to illegal drugs, 
but that is not the case," she said in a statement.

The products, which began to appear in the United States in 2008, are 
sold in smoke shops and online under names like K2, Blue Dragon and 
Black Mamba Spice, and are marked with warnings saying "not intended 
for human consumption." But according to the drug agency, those 
warnings are being ignored, leading to a variety of bad reactions, 
including agitation, vomiting, seizures and hallucinations.

Tony Newman, a spokesman for the Drug Policy Alliance, which seeks to 
liberalize the drug laws, said the ban seemed to be the wrong approach.

"The D.E.A. says that prohibiting synthetic marijuana will 'control' 
it -- yet we know from history that prohibition is the complete 
opposite of drug control," Mr. Newman said, adding that regulating 
and setting age limits would be a better approach than "relegating it 
to the black market."

Fifteen states have sought to control the THC-like chemicals, the 
drug agency said. But the products are still easily available; one 
online retailer on Wednesday was advertising Blue Dragon as "perfect 
for someone who gets drug tested and doesn't want to test positive." 
And, on Polk Street in San Francisco a packet of three grams of K2 
was bought for $25. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake