Pubdate: Sat, 27 Nov 2010
Source: Register Citizen (CT)
Copyright: 2010 Register Citizen
Contact:  http://www.registercitizen.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/598
Author: Lindsey Burrill, Register Citizen Staff
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/K2

LOCAL POLICE WANT CONNECTICUT TO BAN K2, KNOWN AS 'FAKE WEED'

TORRINGTON - Local police have expressed mounting concern over a 
concoction sold legally in local stores and known as "K2," "Spice" or 
simply "fake weed."

According to Lt. Michael Emanuel of the Torrington Police Department, 
teens are getting high off of this substance. There have been reports 
of it causing hallucinations, delusions, vomiting, agitation, 
elevated blood pressure and heart rates, as well as other dangerous effects.

K2 has been sold in shops since 2006 as incense or potpourri for 
approximately $30 to $40 for a bag containing 3 grams.

While K2 is a legally sold substance, it reportedly offers a 
marijuana-like high. Currently K2 is outlawed in 13 states and 17 
countries, but remains legal in Connecticut. Connecticut legislators 
will be asked to consider adding this incense or potpourri product to 
the list of controlled substances, thus making it illegal to possess 
and/or sell.

Lt. Emanuel reports that the danger is that K2 comes in many flavors 
of herbal incense and was not made with the intention to smoke or 
ingest. General use of most types of incense requires the incense to 
be lit, creating a smoke that could be inhaled unintentionally.

Polk County, Florida, Sheriff Grady Judd recently commented on his 
experience with K2: "Minors are smoking it and experiencing 
frightening side effects, including high blood pressures, vomiting, 
and hallucinations. One package may make you sick, the next may kill you."

Although there have not been significant reports of death resulting 
directly from the substance, authorities worry of behavioral changes 
that may occur while suffering from hallucinations. Lt. Emanuel 
claims in the press release that the herbal blend that makes up K2 is 
about 10 times more active than THC, which is the active ingredient 
in marijuana. However K2 does not contain any THC, but Emanuel says, 
"K2 appears to be treated with differing versions of synthetic 
Cannabinoids. The effects of which are reportedly analogous to 
marijuana but include additional dangers to users such as panic 
attacks, heart palpitations, hallucinations, delusions, vomiting, 
increased agitation, dilated pupils, and other symptoms.

Until any official law outlaws the sale of K2, the Torrington Police 
Department are urging parents, students, and the public of the danger 
in smoking this very damaging incense. Emanuel adds, "The fact that 
K2 may be a mixture of herbal and spice plant products sprayed with a 
potent psychotropic drug is extremely harmful and we want to warn the 
public to be aware to these issues." Please contact Lt. Emanuel, or 
the Torrington Police Department Narcotics Division for further 
comment on K2/Spice.
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