Pubdate: Sat, 04 Feb 2012
Source: Daily News, The (Greenville, MI)
Copyright: 2012 Stafford Media Solutions
Contact:  http://www.thedailynews.cc/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5262
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/synthetic+marijuana

INCENSED OVER 'HERBAL INCENSE'

When the Handy Market was broken into on Jan. 11, Greenville police 
reported energy pills and synthetic marijuana had been stolen.

Synthetic what? Sold in our neighborhood?

We didn't know about this. Did you?

The more we learn about synthetic marijuana, the less we like it.

"Kryptonite" is marketed as herbal incense, but that's apparently 
just a ploy to make it available to anyone who wants to buy it and smoke it.

Local law enforcement officials say Kryptonite is very similar to K2 
Spice, another "herbal incense" which was outlawed in Michigan in 
October 2010 after hundreds of illnesses were reported to the Poison 
Control Center nationally that year. Symptoms of smoking "herbal 
incense" include hallucinations, mind-altering moods, stroke and seizures.

This product seems to appeal to people of all ages.

An 18-year-old in central Michigan died in December after smoking a 
K2 blend. Actress Demi Moore, age 49, was taken to a hospital 
convulsing and barely conscious after allegedly smoking herbal 
incense last month.

"She (Demi Moore) smoked something," the caller told the 911 
operator. "It's not marijuana. It's similar to incense."

Did we mention there's no age limit to purchase it?

The Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, approved by 63 percent of voters 
in November 2008, has been a headache for law enforcement officials 
ever since and has seemingly created more problems than solutions.

But as if regular marijuana wasn't accessible enough, teens and 
adults are now turning to synthetic drugs.

Few studies exist about the use and effects of synthetic drugs. It's 
a troubling trend when rolling and smoking a mysterious substance 
becomes a local fad -- especially among our youth.

Like we said, we didn't know synthetic marijuana was being sold in 
our neighborhood. Some adults may have not known either, but we bet 
our young people do.

There's one way to find out.

Ask a young person -- maybe your child -- if they have heard of 
"herbal incense" or "synthetic marijuana." They may know it better by 
the name "Kryptonite" or "K2 Spice."

This is a great opportunity to have a thoughtful discussion with a 
young person about how abusing chemical substances affects your body, 
your mind and your life.

Young people need to hear from you .. and who knows? They may teach 
you something too.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom