Pubdate: Tue, 05 Jun 2012
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)
Copyright: 2012 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Contact: http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/letters/sendletter.html
Website: http://www.ajc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28
Author: Christian Boone

SYNTHETIC POT BACK ON SHELVES

Two months after Gov. Nathan Deal signed a law outlawing its sale, 
distributors peddling synthetic cannabis have found a way around the 
legislation.

Now, the substance typically known by the brand names K-2 and Spice 
can again be sold legally in Georgia "at least for the next nine 
months," or until the General Assembly is back in session, said GBI 
spokesman John Bankhead.

Even then, Bankhead conceded, it may be impossible to keep up with 
the chemists.

Nelly Miles, the GBI's chemistry section manager, said, "They changed 
the molecular structure altogether." The side effects of the new 
composition can be worse, she said.

Chase's Law, named after a Fayette County teen who drowned in his 
parent's hot tub after smoking synthetic pot, was authored in part by 
GBI agents to prevent future chemical modifications by manufacturers.

"They essentially altered the basic structure and started all over 
again," said state Sen. Buddy Carter, R-Pooler, who authored the bill 
outlawing its sale.

Convenience store owners recently received notification from the 
manufacturers that they could put the product back on the shelves, 
Carter said. Apparently, many have resumed selling the product 
knowing they can't be held criminally liable.

The substance, composed of plant material and sprayed with chemicals 
that mimic THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, sells from $5 and 
it marketed as incense or potpourri. Though sold with a label warning 
it's "not for human consumption," its target audience has long known 
it's used for getting high.

And it remains popular, despite the ill-fated ban, said Gaylord 
Lopez, director of Georgia Poison Control.

"Unfortunately, we're seeing roughly the same pace of reported cases 
this year as we did in 2011," Lopez said. There were 319 cases 
reported last year compared to just 74 in 2010.

Lopez said he's heard anecdotally that merchants "can't keep the 
stuff on the shelves."

It remains attractive to users, he said, because it provides a 
greater high than marijuana, remains largely undetected by drug tests 
and is readily available.

Referring to it as marijuana actually may be a disservice since the 
chemical variety is much more dangerous, experts say.

Side effects include a rapid heart beat, tremors, "seizure-like 
activity" and a loss of consciousness -- "things that don't typically 
happen from marijuana use," Lopez said. "This is definitely causing 
headaches in emergency rooms across the state."

Last September, a Woodstock paint store manager was arrested after 
getting into a violent confrontation after smoking synthetic cannabis.

Patrick Bynum, 33, allegedly pulled a gun on a female friend, who 
also admitted to smoking the chemical, and then attempted to carjack 
several passing vehicles. It took three officers and repeated hits 
with a stun gun to subdue him, police said.

Carter said legislators will revisit the ban in the next session.

"Make no mistake about it, they are testing our resolve," the state 
senator said. "It's going to be very difficult to keep up with these 
guys, but we're going to do whatever it takes to win the battle."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom