GPD: Parents should be aware of dangers of 'legal pot'
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
A new substance being abused by teens to get high is sweeping across the state of Ohio, according to law enforcement officials. Its effects are reportedly the same as smoking marijuana, but it can legally be purchased by anyone, of any age, at gas stations, smoke shops and mini marts.
K2, known as spice, genie and synthetic pot, is marketed as an incense, and according to its packaging, is "not for human consumption." But Greenfield Police Chief Tim Hester said that parents need to be aware that this is a potentially dangerous substance that kids are smoking.
"I just became aware of it through concerned parents," Hester told The Highland County Press. "I was asked if I was aware it was sold in some local gas stations and mini marts. I had a civilian go in and purchase the product to verify what it is. We haven't had any stories or reports of first-hand accounts with it, it's just more of a concern that this could be a potential problem. Before we start seeing its effects, we're trying to nip it in the bud."
While the product is legal in the state of Ohio, the General Assembly is considering legislation that would put it on the list of controlled substances. Hester said that K2 has been banned in other states, and other countries.
There are several videos on youtube showing adolescents smoke the "legal weed" and stating that the effects seem just the same as smoking pot. There are also other videos warning of the dangers.
"Though it, technically, is not illegal, a parent needs to be warned that this is nothing more than synthetic pot," Hester said. "If a parent would find this in a child's pocket, they might not know what it is. They just need to be aware this is potentially dangerous. It's a new chemical compound the law hasn't caught up with yet, so that's why it is technically legal."
Hester said that from what he has read, there have not bee a lot of studies about the effects of the product, but some of the ingredients are unknown.
"Basically, what it amounts to is that it's a synthetic compound of THC, which is the drug element of marijuana," Hester said. "But all the other things that are mixed in with it, those are the unknowns. Some of the studies have shown that the ingredients listed on the packaging are not the same as what's in the packaging. There's not a lot of consistency, and that's part of the danger. You don't know what you're ingesting."
Sen. Karen L. Gillmor of Ohio's 26th District wrote a column earlier this month regarding her concerns for the product. Gillmor wrote that earlier this year two Knox County teens passed out while at school after smoking the substance, and she noted the packaging warns against its ingestion.
"Despite this warning, a growing number of Americans, particularly high school and college students, are buying this fake pot to smoke and get high without understanding the potentially dangerous side effects. In fact, the American Association of Poison Control Centers reported 567 cases in 41 states in which people had suffered adverse reactions to Spice during the first half of 2010, as opposed to only 13 cases reported in all of 2009," Gillmor wrote.
"Anybody can walk into a shop and purchase it, no questions asked," Hester said. "I just want parents to know that it's on the market here locally. Because it's not against the law this is not an issue of law enforcement. But parents need to be aware and strongly discourage their children from possessing it and using it."
A new substance being abused by teens to get high is sweeping across the state of Ohio, according to law enforcement officials. Its effects are reportedly the same as smoking marijuana, but it can legally be purchased by anyone, of any age, at gas stations, smoke shops and mini marts.
K2, known as spice, genie and synthetic pot, is marketed as an incense, and according to its packaging, is "not for human consumption." But Greenfield Police Chief Tim Hester said that parents need to be aware that this is a potentially dangerous substance that kids are smoking.
"I just became aware of it through concerned parents," Hester told The Highland County Press. "I was asked if I was aware it was sold in some local gas stations and mini marts. I had a civilian go in and purchase the product to verify what it is. We haven't had any stories or reports of first-hand accounts with it, it's just more of a concern that this could be a potential problem. Before we start seeing its effects, we're trying to nip it in the bud."
While the product is legal in the state of Ohio, the General Assembly is considering legislation that would put it on the list of controlled substances. Hester said that K2 has been banned in other states, and other countries.
There are several videos on youtube showing adolescents smoke the "legal weed" and stating that the effects seem just the same as smoking pot. There are also other videos warning of the dangers.
"Though it, technically, is not illegal, a parent needs to be warned that this is nothing more than synthetic pot," Hester said. "If a parent would find this in a child's pocket, they might not know what it is. They just need to be aware this is potentially dangerous. It's a new chemical compound the law hasn't caught up with yet, so that's why it is technically legal."
Hester said that from what he has read, there have not bee a lot of studies about the effects of the product, but some of the ingredients are unknown.
"Basically, what it amounts to is that it's a synthetic compound of THC, which is the drug element of marijuana," Hester said. "But all the other things that are mixed in with it, those are the unknowns. Some of the studies have shown that the ingredients listed on the packaging are not the same as what's in the packaging. There's not a lot of consistency, and that's part of the danger. You don't know what you're ingesting."
Sen. Karen L. Gillmor of Ohio's 26th District wrote a column earlier this month regarding her concerns for the product. Gillmor wrote that earlier this year two Knox County teens passed out while at school after smoking the substance, and she noted the packaging warns against its ingestion.
"Despite this warning, a growing number of Americans, particularly high school and college students, are buying this fake pot to smoke and get high without understanding the potentially dangerous side effects. In fact, the American Association of Poison Control Centers reported 567 cases in 41 states in which people had suffered adverse reactions to Spice during the first half of 2010, as opposed to only 13 cases reported in all of 2009," Gillmor wrote.
"Anybody can walk into a shop and purchase it, no questions asked," Hester said. "I just want parents to know that it's on the market here locally. Because it's not against the law this is not an issue of law enforcement. But parents need to be aware and strongly discourage their children from possessing it and using it."
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