Category: K2 Incense News December

21 Individuals Indicted for Synthetic Marijuana Distribution

The Missouri Western District United States Attorney announced that 21 individuals from the Springfield and Joplin areas were indicted in related cases pertaining to the sale and distribution of millions of dollars of synthetic marijuana. In total, 13 retail outlets were affected.

Among the business owners was Caitlyn E. Franklin, 24, owner of Hellbender Meadery, which was set to open last month at 3820 State Highway KK in Rogersville. Franklin was indicted with her father, Douglas K. Franklin, 54, and her brother, Brandon D. Franklin, 26, according to a press release.

The indictment of the Franklin family for synthetic marijuana trafficking was one of six of these similar indictments. They were made public after after several of the related arrests had been made. A federal grand jury in Springfield authorized these incitements last week.

These incitements are the result of a long term investigation conducted by local, state and federal agencies for the sole purpose of removing synthetic marijuana, otherwise known as K2 Incense from their state.

Synthetic Pot Accounts for one of Livingston Michigan’s top Crimes.

Synthetic marijuana — which is a mixture of herbs sprayed with chemicals that, when smoked, create a high similar to THC, the main active ingredient in marijuana — dominated headlines in the spring and summer.

Local Hospitals all across the state have been seeing a stark increase in reported cases of synthetic marijuana abuse. Soon, parents demanded that stores pull the substances from their shelves.

Eventually, lawmakers sprung into action and added several chemicals to the controlled substances list, including many of those used in synthetic marijuana compounds.

In June, Livingston County health officials declared synthetic marijuana an imminent health danger, and they, along with law enforcement officers, visited 10 local stores and confiscated more than 800 units of synthetic marijuana.

About two weeks later, Gov. Rick Snyder signed legislation that lawmakers hoped would keep synthetic drugs off Michigan store shelves.

Synthetic marijuana stayed in the headlines in October when the county prosecutor’s office charged the owner of the Smokers Depot in Genoa Township and the store’s manager with selling synthetic marijuana laced with JWH-018, a chemical outlawed in 2011.

Synthetic marijuana ‘Strawberry Fields’ hospitalizes 2 Oklahoma teens

Earlier k2info.org reported that synthetic marijuana may cause kidney failure. In Oklahoma City,  two teens were recently hospitalized after consuming synthetic marijuana, more particualrly the “strawberry fields” brand.  Doctors from The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center say they’ve treated two teenagers in the past two weeks who allegedly got sick after smoking a form of synthetic marijuana.

One of the teens has to undergo kidney dialysis after his kidneys failed.

His mother, Rhonda Woodriff, said he had a lower back pain, was vomiting and was unable to urinate for two days.

“This is just dangerous,” she said. “It’s terrible. I don’t know how people can even make this stuff.”

Doctors say there have been at least 11 similar cases linked to synthetic marijuana nationwide.

Investigators with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs tell 2NEWS that the teens had smoked a strain called “Strawberry Fields.”

Spokesman Mark Woodward released the following statement:

“The public must understand that these synthetic drugs are not a safe alternative to traditional street drugs.  We are seeing sharp increases in hospital admissions and deaths resulting from synthetic marijuana products and other similar products sold in gas stations.  Parents should be aware of the stores their teens visit, the products they are buying, store receipts, and web sites they frequent. Many of these products are prohibited under state law. If you are aware of stores selling these synthetic marijuana products (“potpourri”, “insence” or “bath salts”) in your community, you are encouraged to report them to OBN or your local police department.”

The hospitalized teens are listed in fair and good condition.

If you suspect your child is consuming synthetic marijuana, despite popular belief, there are synthetic marijuana drug testing kits available at price points similar to real marijuana drug testing kits.

The nation’s capital has joined more than 40 states in calling for a ban on synthetic marijuana and bath salts, a pair of drug genres that have raised eyebrows among law enforcement, parents and antidrug advocates alike because of their off-the-shelf accessibility and frightening effects.

For almost half a decade, different forms of synthetic marijuana and bath salts have been making their way into (and out of) convenience and tobacco stores.

While voters in Colorado and Washington state decided this month to legalize small amounts of naturally growing marijuana, an increasing number of lawmakers have decided in recent years to ban drugs that incorporate a hodgepodge of man-made ingredients, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The drugs targeted by the new laws include synthetic cannabinoids with product names such as “K2” or “Spice” and substituted cathinones, or “bath salts,” which initially were suspected in a high-profile May 26 attack in Miami on a homeless man whose face was practically eaten off before police shot his attacker.

These synthetic compounds have been responsible for countless stories involving zombie like behavior. It is said that these substances can raise the body temperature to a point where the brain begins to malfunction, leaving only the basic most primary instincts

The Drug Enforcement Administration describes synthetic marijuana as a mix of herbs and spices that are sprayed with a synthetic substance similar to THC, the psychoactive ingredient in traditional marijuana. It is often marked as incense but can be smoked and causes “seizures, paranoia, panic attacks and giddiness, shortness of breath, and countless other side effects” the agency says.

Although these substances attack the brain in a similar way to their natural counterparts, they are far more aggressive in doing so.

Study shows public is generally misinformed about synthetic marijuana products

In a recent study conducted by k2info.org administrators, it has been concluded that the majority of the population is still unaware of the dangers surrounding synthetic marijuana products.

In this non-scientific pole, a random assortment of people over the past 12 months have been interviewed on their experiences with synthetic marijuana products- K2 incense, Spice, and others (personal or second hand witness).

Those surveyed seemed to be under the impression that certain potpourri blends/mixes were being repackaged and marketed as synthetic marijuana. Most of the participants were unaware that this is only partially the case, not realizing that these herbs are actually sprayed with synthetic compounds designed to mimic the “high” marijuana produces. The original JWH compounds were designed in a laboratory for testing purposes on lab animals, to study the interaction between the drugs and brain receptors. There are supposedly 460 of these marijuana-like chemical compounds in existence.

Synthetic Marijuana is unregulated, and not sanctioned by FDA guidelines. When purchasing such products, it is not known how high a dose per gram of these drugs you are receiving. Even if you purchase a “3 gram bag” of synthetic marijuana, it is near impossible to tell how much of the chemical the plant matter receives during treatment. Potency is impossible to determine.

In almost 100% of the interviewed cases, however, at least one if not multiple side effects were reported, including but not limited to, shortness of breath, seizures, increased heart rate, sweating, the need/desire to obtain more product only after one use(addiction), severe prolonged headaches and migraines, and others.

Amongst the surveyed participants, the two primary reasons for purchasing such products fell under one of two categories:

1) Limited availability of real marijuana

2) The need to “stay clean” to pass looming drug tests.

All participants, after the survey was conducted, were made aware of the dangers that synthetic marijuana, Spice, K2 Incense pose.

If you or someone you know is consuming any synthetic marijuana products, be sure to let those persons know the facts surrounding these substances.  Synthetic marijuana is NOT a safe alternative to real marijuana, and it is generally an accepted fact that Synthetic Marijuana products are in fact much less safe than real marijuana.

States are still in the process of banning all synthetic drugs including Spice, K2 Incense, bath salts, and all other derivatives and similar products.  There is currently an emergency federal ban in place on these substances.