Pubdate: Fri, 11 Oct 2013
Source: Baltimore Sun (MD)
Copyright: 2013 The Baltimore Sun Company
Contact:  http://www.baltimoresun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/37
Authors: John McCarthy and Tom Manger
Note: John McCarthy is Montgomery County state's attorney.

ENDING THE SCOURGE OF FAKE MARIJUANA

Earlier this year, the General Assembly passed legislation to deal
with the serious problem of an emerging class of drugs known as
"synthetic cannabinoids." The new law, which went into effect Oct. 1,
prohibits the sale and possession of drugs intended to mimic the
effects of marijuana, commonly sold under brand names such as "K-2,"
"Spice," "Voodoo Spice" "Scooby Snax," "Mr. Nice Guy" and "Mystery,"
to name just a few.

Particularly troubling is that the packaging of these products often
depict cartoon characters or images that are appealing to young
people. Commonly, the packaging label contains language advising that
the product is "incense" and "not for human consumption." In the past,
however, retailers have sold it to buyers with a wink and a nod. They
intimate the product is to be smoked and that it will give the user a
high similar to marijuana.

They also tout that the drug cannot be detected in the blood stream or
urine by normal testing methods.

It should be understood that the label "synthetic cannabinoid" or
"synthetic marijuana" is actually a misnomer, as these drugs' effects
may be similar to marijuana, but the chemical make-up and lasting
damage they cause are far worse.

These drugs have nothing to do with marijuana. In reality they are
very dangerous designer drugs that were originally created in a
laboratory and first discovered in the U.S. in 2008 by a Drug
Enforcement Agency forensic lab. What makes these drugs especially
dangerous is that in order to stay a step ahead of law enforcement,
the manufacturers constantly make changes to the chemical ingredients.
Consequently, abusers of these drugs have no idea what they are
ingesting - what has been added or sprayed onto them or from where
they came.

Synthetic cannabinoids have been found to be five to 45 times more
potent than some of the strongest marijuana, and the psychoactive
ingredient in them can be 100 to 800 times more potent than naturally
occurring THC (the active ingredient in marijuana). Reported adverse
effects on humans include anxiety, panic attacks, heart palpitations,
respiratory problems, aggression, mood swings, hallucinations,
numbness in the extremities, night-sweats and even death.

Possessing these dangerous substances will carry the same penalty as
other illegal drugs, that is, up to four years in jail. Penalties for
distributing these substances will mirror the existing statute for
illegal drugs.

Stopping this scourge in our communities will require a total effort
from parents and teachers, coaches and cops - and most of all the
business community.

Montgomery County Police detectives and other law enforcement
authorities across the state will be checking retail outlets that have
been selling these drugs to ensure that they are no longer being sold.
Shopowners must stop selling these products or they could pay a heavy
price - in court.

Or they could face seizure of their businesses and forfeiture of their
assets.

Let's all work together to prevent our children from using these
dangerous products.

This is where it all begins - with education, legislative leadership
and partnering with police and parents so together from Pikesville to
Poolesville and everywhere in between we can prevent addiction,
troubled behaviors or the tragedy of teens dying in Maryland.
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MAP posted-by: Matt