Pubdate: Sun, 01 Jun 2014 Source: Eagle-Tribune, The (MA) Copyright: 2014 The Eagle-Tribune Contact: http://www.eagletribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/129 Author: Christian M. Wade STATE LOOKS TO BAN SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA BOSTON - Carrying small amounts of marijuana is no longer a crime in Massachusetts, but the state may soon ban the fake stuff. Massachusetts could join at least 43 states that have cracked down on the sale of chemical-laden synthetic marijuana now legally available on the shelves of gas stations, convenience stores and smoke shops. Leafy looking products with names like "Spice," "Mojo" and "Black Mamba" are typically made from herbs but laced with acetone and other chemicals that mimic THC, the active drug in marijuana, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The mix can cause toxic reactions, according to the National Institutes of Health, including seizures, irregular heartbeats, strokes and psychotic episodes. Local health and police officials say users have landed in emergency rooms, though most accounts are anecdotal, and the state doesn't track such cases. "These items aren't being sold by drug dealers on street corners but on the shelves of stores in our communities," said Sen. Michael Moore, D-Millbury, who co-sponsored an amendment to the 2015 state budget to make the sale of synthetic marijuana illegal. "We're not going after the users, we just want it off the shelves," he said. "It's dangerous." The measure, also co-sponsored by Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, must still be approved by the House and Gov. Deval Patrick. It would add fake pot products to the list of Class C substances, a category that includes Peyote and Mescaline. Law enforcement officials cite a surge in the use of synthetic drugs made of legal chemicals that mimic the dangerous effects of pot, cocaine, amphetamines and other illegal drugs. Lawmakers two years ago banned "bath salts," synthetic stimulants that mimic the effects of traditional drugs like cocaine, but didn't include synthetic marijuana. States have banned synthetic marijuana - even as voters in several states have legalized possession of real marijuana. Massachusetts voters decriminalized possession of less than an ounce of marijuana in 2008 and approved medical marijuana four years later.BOSTON - Carrying small amounts of marijuana is no longer a crime in Massachusetts, but the state may soon ban the fake stuff. Massachusetts could join at least 43 states that have cracked down on the sale of chemical-laden synthetic marijuana now legally available on the shelves of gas stations, convenience stores and smoke shops. Leafy looking products with names like "Spice," "Mojo" and "Black Mamba" are typically made from herbs but laced with acetone and other chemicals that mimic THC, the active drug in marijuana, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The mix can cause toxic reactions, according to the National Institutes of Health, including seizures, irregular heartbeats, strokes and psychotic episodes. Local health and police officials say users have landed in emergency rooms, though most accounts are anecdotal, and the state doesn't track such cases. "These items aren't being sold by drug dealers on street corners but on the shelves of stores in our communities," said Sen. Michael Moore, D-Millbury, who co-sponsored an amendment to the 2015 state budget to make the sale of synthetic marijuana illegal. "We're not going after the users, we just want it off the shelves," he said. "It's dangerous." The measure, also co-sponsored by Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, must still be approved by the House and Gov. Deval Patrick. It would add fake pot products to the list of Class C substances, a category that includes Peyote and Mescaline. Law enforcement officials cite a surge in the use of synthetic drugs made of legal chemicals that mimic the dangerous effects of pot, cocaine, amphetamines and other illegal drugs. Lawmakers two years ago banned "bath salts," synthetic stimulants that mimic the effects of traditional drugs like cocaine, but didn't include synthetic marijuana. States have banned synthetic marijuana - even as voters in several states have legalized possession of real marijuana. Massachusetts voters decriminalized possession of less than an ounce of marijuana in 2008 and approved medical marijuana four years later. Health officials said synthetic marijuana is considered far more dangerous than the real stuff. "We're very concerned about it," said Larry Ramdin, who oversees Salem's Board of Health. "We really don't know what's in these products and people can get really sick and die from it." A handful of Massachusetts cities and towns - including Lynn, Quincy, North Attleboro and Middleboro - have enacted ordinances banning fake pot. Gloucester, Newburyport and Salem are considering similar bans. "We're not going to rid the world of drugs, but we want to limit the use by young people," said Gloucester City Council President Paul McGeary. "We're concerned about kids getting their hands on this stuff." Police in Newburyport have asked convenience stores that were selling the synthetic marijuana to voluntarily pull it from the shelves. "We've had some bad incidents with kids taking the stuff and getting violently ill," said Newburyport Police Marshal Thomas Howard. "We're not foolish enough to think they're not selling it under the counter. But there's no law against it, so we can't force them." The proposed legislation lists about 20 chemicals that are commonly found in cannabinoid products. Offenders caught selling the products would face up to 10 years in state prison for repeated violations, and fines from $500 and $10,000. Federal officials have been cracking down on synthetic drugs since they became popular several years ago. In 2010, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration banned five chemicals used to make synthetic marijuana blends including K2, Spice and Blaze. Manufacturers, some overseas, modify their formulas and develop new chemical mixtures, according to the DEA. In March, the agency raided suspected synthetic drug-makers in 28 states -- including Massachusetts. Agents arrested 150 people and seized more than $20 million in cash and assets. The government also sanctioned four foreign companies - including a Chinese pharmaceutical company - that authorities said bought and sold significant amounts of chemicals used in many popular synthetic drugs. Tarr said the proposed law anticipates manufacturers who will look for ways to skirt regulations. "You have folks trying to game the system by changing one molecule of the drug compound," he said. "We can't allow major changes in chemistry to overturn public policy." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom