Deb Derry knows too many teens who have tried "spice" and regretted it. Derry, a counselor at Mt. Pleasant High School and Oasis Alternative High School, knows one student who smoked synthetic marijuana three to five times a week and went into a psychotic episode. Another student used the drug once and won't do it again. Still another smoked the legal drug that is labeled as incense or potpourri and not for human consumption, became addicted to the "bizarre" high and now needs to take Xanax, Ativan or another prescription drug to feel normal. That student overdosed on the prescription trying to "get down" from the high obtained by smoking spice. [continues 710 words]
The Alabama Legislature recently passed a bill banning a wide range of synthetic drugs. If the bill is signed into law by Gov. Robert Bentley, as expected, the bill will ban dozens of substances used to make items such as "synthetic marijuana," "spice" and other illicit drugs. Synthetic marijuana has been on the rise in Shelby County, as it has been across the state, and can cause seizures, stomach and kidney issues. However, banning such synthetic drugs has been problematic up until now, because if an ingredient in a synthetic drug was banned, drug suppliers would simply change the ingredient to make the synthetic drug legal again. [continues 172 words]
Air Force Academy officials expect to discipline at least seven cadets after a months-long investigation into reports of illegal drug use at the academy. No names of cadets punished for illegal drug use - nor specifics of the discipline they received - were released Wednesday, more than three months after academy officials began investigating cadets' use of banned substances. But the statistics offer the first glimpse into an inquiry that involved 31 cadets - some of whom are intercollegiate athletes - and that mirrored past investigations of a synthetic substance called Spice, which mimics the effects of marijuana. [continues 218 words]
Air Force Academy officials expect to discipline at least seven cadets after a months-long investigation into reports of illegal drug use at the academy. No names of cadets punished for illegal drug use - nor specifics of the discipline they received - were released Wednesday, more than three months after academy officials began investigating cadets' use of banned substances. But the statistics offer the first glimpse into an inquiry that involved 31 cadets - some of whom are intercollegiate athletes - and that mirrored past investigations of a synthetic substance called Spice, which mimics the effects of marijuana. For more on this story go to www.gazette.com [end]
Not everybody is buying state Sen. Diane Savino's bid to legalize medical marijuana in New York state. "It brings us one step closer to legalizing marijuana for recreational use," said Luke Nasta, head of Camelot Counseling Centers here. Democratic Gov. Mario Cuomo is also a buzz-killer, saying that the risks associated with medical marijuana outweigh the benefits. Ms. Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) plans to introduce her bill tomorrow, which she said will likely be the beginning of a months-long effort to get the legislation approved. [continues 756 words]
Phony marijuana targeted by recent state legislation sounds worse than the real thing, if you believe Georgia's governor. Chase's Law strengthens a ban on "synthetic marijuana," ground-up plant material laced with chemicals that mimic marijuana. Chase Burnett, the bill's namesake, was found dead in March in a hot tub at his Fayette County home, a packet of the drugs nearby. He was 16. The bill passed with overwhelming support. On March 27, Gov. Nathan Deal signed it into law. [continues 787 words]
Many Use the Narcotic Because It Is Convenient, Easy to Buy Synthetic marijuana is illegal in Georgia - again. Last week, Gov. Nathan Deal signed into law a bill outlawing "all forms of synthetic marijuana." Senate Bill 370 - Chase's Law, in memory of Chase Burnett, a 16-year-old from Fayette County who drowned in a hot tub after smoking the drug commonly referred to "spice" - is aimed at successfully curbing a drug that has seen a rampant increase in usage, especially among young people. [continues 1508 words]
Though performance-enhancing drug scandals have hogged sports headlines for the past decade, administrators, athletic directors and college coaches have shifted their focus to street drugs. "We've talked with coaches, and they have a new worst nightmare," said Andrea Wickerham, vice president for the National Center for Drug Free Sport. "That is their pain almost on a daily basis." On Feb. 15, four TCU football players were charged with selling marijuana. After hearing of drug use on the team from a recruit, coach Gary Patterson called for a surprise drug test of the whole team on Feb. 1. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that five players failed the test. Another 11 players had trace amounts within the margin of error, and 86 players passed the test. Marijuana was the only drug detected. [continues 1967 words]
A local woman's son became "psychotic" last October after smoking a substance he purchased legally, according to her testimony at a recent Athens-Clarke County Health Department board meeting. The substance - synthetic marijuana known as "spice" - was a topic of discussion at the board meeting Wednesday, when Marla Gray told her son's story. Many of the board members said they had never heard of the drug but said they planned on learning more about it and whether it has had a significant impact on the county. [continues 494 words]
NORFOLK, Va. -In 1913, Navy Secretary Josephus Daniels issued a revolutionary order: no more alcohol aboard ships. According to official Navy myth, sober sailors mocked their boss by nicknaming their coffee - the strongest drink still allowed on board - a "cup of Joe." A century later, current Navy Secretary Ray Mabus is one-upping Daniels, ordering the installation of breath-test machines on all ships and submarines, as well as on Marine Corps bases. One can only imagine how he will go down in naval lore. [continues 233 words]
The death of Chase Burnett rocked the town of Fayetteville. More than 200 friends and family members visited his parents' home Sunday night. Chase's classmates at McIntosh High School were so shaken by the news that they remained silent throughout lunch period the following Monday morning, and signed a memorial wall in his honor. "Chase was accepted, adored, loved and respected by all his peers, friends and adults. He absolutely loved life," said his father, David Burnett. "We're sincerely overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support that we have received." [continues 427 words]
Marijuana use among youth has risen nationally for the fourth straight year, according to the "Monitoring the Future" survey, conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the University of Michigan. The report, which was released last month in Washington, D.C., is considered one of the leading indicators of trends in substance use among the nation's teens. Specifically, the survey found that daily marijuana use is at a 30-year high among high school seniors, with 6.6 percent using pot daily. The report, which surveyed 47,000 teens in grades eight, 10 and 12, also found that as usage rates increase, perceived risk is in decline. [continues 636 words]
Synthetic marijuana was sold from a Denver convenience market just 1,000 feet from East High School and police say students and the surrounding neighbors were customers. After a month-long investigation, the owner and manager of Sun Mart at 2405 E. Colfax Avenue and a clerk were arrested and face felony charges for selling the drugs. The investigation began after police received numerous complaints students were buying the synthetic marijuana, commonly referred to as "spice," from the Sun Mart. Spice is exponentially more potent than smoking a marijuana joint, said Lt. Aaron Sanchez. [continues 285 words]
Marijuana is in the news. Now the focus is too many people have medical marijuana permits (Tribune-Herald, Feb. 11). Too many are too young. Too many do not have the correct diagnoses. Is this a threat to the community? Is this really where our focus should be? Is this where our resources should be spent? Methamphetamine has a severe impact on our community. It's made in illegal labs with chemicals that are not meant for human consumption. This substance is tied directly to violent crimes. [continues 179 words]
While Montanans have been fiercely debating medical marijuana, another kind of marijuana has become a national trend. Nearly one in nine U.S. high school seniors has used "synthetic marijuana," according to a 2011 survey conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. It was the first time the annual survey asked about synthetic marijuana, also known as K2 or Spice. Until recently, these chemical concoctions designed to mimic the effects of marijuana were available in some Montana convenience stores. The NIDA survey found that 11.4 percent of students surveyed reported using Spice within the past year. [continues 407 words]
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. [continues 271 words]
The Santa Rosa County School District Is Saying "No" to Potpourri. More specifically, the potpourri many refer to as "K-2" or "Spice" that can be smoked, and that gives people the same side affects one might experience while high on marijuana. The drug became mildly popular over the past few years, and the district has taken notice. At Thursday night's school board meeting, the board introduced a proposed amendment for the district's Student Code of Conduct that would outlaw spice as part of a list of controlled substances not allowed on school campuses. [continues 627 words]
Scott Kelly Reports on Drug Abuse Trends in Charlevoix County CHARLEVOIX - Local prescription drug and marijuana abuse are on the rise, plus there are new threats in the form of readily-available products, according to D. Scott Kelly, executive director of Bay Area Substance Education Services (BASES), Inc. in Charlevoix. "Nationally, more high school seniors have tried marijuana than cigarettes," reported Kelly, who presented his findings at a special program, entitled "Drug Use Trends in Charlevoix County," at the Charlevoix Public Library on Tuesday. He added that marijuana use is trending upward among younger students, while overall perceptions of risk are decreasing - due, in part, to newly-enacted medical marijuana legislation. Michigan is one of 16 states with a medical marijuana program, which was approved by state voters in 2008. [continues 230 words]
With Millions in Federal Funding, One Goes on the Trail of Synthetic Marijuana. Reporting from Little Rock, Ark.- When Jeffery H. Moran goes to work each day, he swipes his security badge, passes into an airtight chamber, opens a bombproof door and enters a lab full of deadly toxins. As chief of the counter-terrorism laboratory at the Arkansas Department of Health - one of 62 such federally funded labs in the country - he heads two dozen chemists who are on constant alert for the release of pestilence or poisons in the United States. [continues 924 words]
Synthetic marijuana: It's here and it's a problem CORBIN At 28,251 feet, K2 is the second highest mountain in the world. Located on the Chinese-Pakistan border in the continent of Asia, it's the highest peak in Pakistan. But some say that high's nothing compared to the high they get from a package of K2, which they can easily buy. The Scooby Doo that's become popular in the Tri-County region in recent months has nothing to do with the cartoon character of the same name -- the Scooby Doo that parents of a generation ago used to watch on TV. [continues 3104 words]
'We Don't Want to Become the City That Forgot How to Party' EDMONTON - When it comes to the regulation of raves, two values collide: the imperative to keep people safe vs. the benefits of allowing individuals the freedom to celebrate as they see fit. On the safety side of the equation, we've heard dire warnings and scary statistics for years related to these massive dance parties. For example, in May 2000, a city police constable, Rick Abbott, told a city hall committee about the drug problem at raves: "'Raving exists because of ecstasy and ecstasy exists because of raving ... the two seem to go hand in hand." [continues 919 words]
Legislative action is needed in the fight against synthetic drugs. As soon as a substance is controlled, someone changes the compounds to make it legal again. The news is filled with frightening tales about the problem caused by bath salts, spice and other synthetic drug threats. Last year I introduced legislation to combat this threat, H.3793. There are 65 co-sponsors to my bill, which enjoys bipartisan support in the House. Working with my fellow lawmakers and law enforcement, an important amendment has been crafted to keep our laws light years ahead of the criminals. This amendment, which will be before the House Judiciary Committee today, is a crucial step in making sure law enforcement has the tools it needs to combat the synthetic drug threat. [continues 58 words]
Multiple brands of incense that contain synthetic cannabinoids sold at a gas station on Fletcher Avenue. Despite legislative efforts to outlaw them, packets and jars of products such as Spice and K2 can still be bought at most local convenience stores as easily as gum and Gatorade. Products with names like "Red Dragon" and "Blueberry Meditation" contain a blend of herbal plants sprayed with chemical compounds meant to mimic the effects of marijuana. Warnings on the labels state that the smoke should not be inhaled, but more than 9,000 calls were made in the last two years to poison control centers in the U.S. concerning these products, according to a whitehouse.gov fact sheet. [continues 910 words]
SYNTHETIC narcotic substances banned last year appear to have been found in the Central Prison, the prison's deputy director said yesterday. According to George Tryfonides, the drugs have been taken for lab tests, but are believed to be part of a number of substances that were considered "legal highs", under the name of Dream. "On Saturday, a convict offered to hand over to members of staff a specific amount of drug substances, as he called it," said Tryfonides. He said Nicosia's Drug Squad (YKAN) Nicosia was immediately summoned to the prison. [continues 202 words]
FORT WAYNE -- With the help of a friend, a woman came into the Butler Police Department's lobby one day last summer gasping for breath. Her friend immediately placed her on the floor and frantically asked officers to call an ambulance. The woman, described by Butler police as in her early to mid-20s, wheezed as she said it felt as if an elephant were sitting on her chest. Later, medics and police learned she had been smoking synthetic marijuana - a substance becoming popular among those who want to get high legally and resistant to state lawmakers' attempts to eradicate its sale, distribution and use. [continues 1101 words]
FILER - Administrators in the Filer School District are taking steps to educate students on the potential dangers of a herbal mixture commonly known as "spice" and sold locally under brand names like Hayze. Filer High School Principal Leon Madsen informed school board members Wednesday that two incidents where the marijuana-like substance was used resulted in students being taken to the hospital. "Hayze actually started showing up in the school a year ago last October," he said. "Since then, once in the school and once at a game, we've had to call an ambulance because kids have lost consciousness." [continues 268 words]
Last month's column about being against drug testing welfare recipients (Dec. 16) turned out to be somewhat controversial. Many statements were made about welfare recipients not being "beneath us," and certainly they are not. What is disturbing, though, is that out of 91 blogs and one letter to the editor, no one even mentioned the self-serving politics of Florida Gov. Rick Scott and his ties to Solantic. If our elected leaders are passing laws that benefit industries they or their cronies have money invested in while circumventing our Constitution, then America, we have a problem. [continues 607 words]
Many US communities are blocking medical marijuana More and more states are saying yes to medical marijuana. But local governments are increasingly using their laws to just say no, not in our backyard. In California, with the nation's most permissive medical marijuana laws, 185 cities and counties have banned pot dispensaries entirely. In New Jersey, perhaps the most restrictive of the 17 states that have legalized marijuana for sick people, some groups planning to sell cannabis are struggling to find local governments willing to let them in. [continues 998 words]
Cottonwood enacts ban; Prescott groups want same action Monica Wipf, who runs two recovery homes in Prescott, said she put out fliers for a protest against bath salts, window cleaner, spice, and other designer drugs, because she's seen the damage they have done. About 40 people gathered at the Yavapai County Courthouse on Wednesday morning to protest the sales of designer drugs in Prescott. "I know of a 17-year-old who OD'd on them and just came out of a coma recently who can't talk," Wipf said. "(Another) woman said to come down off of that stuff made her want to hurt herself." [continues 713 words]
Iowa Hospitals Report Spike In People Sick From Bath Salts CHEROKEE, Iowa -- A growing number of people have been hospitalized in Iowa due to the effects of designer drugs K2 and "bath salts" in recent months, a trend that may indicate more are using dangerous synthetic drugs. "I've been the sheriff in Cherokee County for 14 years and this is the worst that I've seen," said Sheriff Dave Scott. Four people in Cherokee County, Iowa, last week became seriously ill after ingesting what authorities believe were so-called bath salts, a powdery substance often falsely marketed as a legal alternative to cocaine. [continues 754 words]
