Blog

OCEAN CITY — A marijuana-imitating substance commonly called K2 incense will become illegal to possess within Ocean City’s town limits if Mayor Rick Meehan signs at today’s council meeting an emergency ordinance that comes after urging from Ocean City Police.

At its last work session, Chief Bernadette DiPino told the mayor and council the substance, which is marketed as an incense or aromatherapy product, is being sold again this year at various Boardwalk shops.

Ocean City Police addressed K2 incense concerns last summer by sending letters to merchants telling them to stop selling the product, but it was never made illegal in the town; that step wasn’t taken, since it was gone from store shelves. In March, the Drug Enforcement Agency added five kinds of synthetic cannabis — usually the substance that’s marketed as K2 incense, or Spice — to its list of controlled substances that are illegal to have. That change will last a year, while the government considers whether a permanent ban is called for.

Nevertheless, the little foil packets are back, sold alongside paraphernalia commonly used with marijuana and, on some occasions, a liquid product that is marketed as a drink that can help people pass a drug test, DiPino said.

The herbal substances look similar to marijuana and are sprayed with chemicals meant to imitate the active ingredient in the drug.

“This causes us great concern for the safety of our citizens and our visitors, especially of the younger people,” DiPino said.

DiPino asked that the ordinance covers the use of drug paraphernalia and other substances similar to K2. She said she believes the town needs to prove to the public that it has a zero-tolerance stance on the topic.

The council voted unanimously — with the exclusion of Joe Hall and Mary Knight, who were absent — to have City Solicitor Guy Ayres draw up an ordinance they could pass tonight and have Meehan sign as an emergency ordinance, which he agreed to do.

Councilman Doug Cymek told the chief she made the council’s decision “real easy” when she brought up the issue of overdoses. DiPino said police knew of five people who used K2 incense in Ocean City and overdosed on it, suffering ill effects.

original article

Manufacturing, distributing, possessing synthetic marijuana product to become illegal in September

Adam Rivera can quickly tell you which small packages inside the smoke shop he manages in Bedford are the hot sellers.

“We sell a lot of this synthetic marijuana product,” Rivera, who operates The Dragon’s Breath, said.

Rivera says the botanical incense sold under various names is sold only to adults and only for proper use and makes up more than half of sales on some days. But, soon the product that can mimic the high of marijuana if smoked will be illegal in Texas.

“To see this ban is just sad because it will really hamper our profits.”

Smoke shops across Texas are bracing for what lawmakers call the “K2 incense“ ban, outlawing herbal products sold under various names. Beginning in September, it will be illegal to manufacture, distribute or possess what some call synthetic marijuana in the state of Texas.

Fort Worth State Senator, Wendy Davis co-authored the legislation and says it gives police departments the tool they need to get a dangerous drug off the streets.

“If it does come to their attention, they can make an arrest if they want to.’”

The federal government, under the DEA took action last year to outlaw K2 incense, but distributors tweaked formulas and names that helped keep the product legal.  Some say the statewide ban will curtail use.

“My hope is that it will be less accessible and if you can’t find it then that might be a deterrent,” Debbie Meripolski, with The Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, said

But, Rivera isn’t so sure. He believes the ban may only chase the use, underground.

“History has shown that by prohibiting use, the wrong people start selling it.”

source

PITTSBURGH — Thirteen-year-old Brandon Rice is fighting for life instead of looking forward to entering eighth grade at Southmoreland Middle School this month.

Tonya and Raymond Rice of East Huntingdon are praying that he just makes it home from Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.

The Rices have been unable to speak to Brandon since June 18, when he was placed on a respirator to keep him alive after his lungs were damaged by smoking synthetic marijuana.

“Kids experiment and think they are invincible. People don’t think it can happen to them, but it happened to us,” Tonya Rice said.

“Parents need to keep their eyes open,” she said.

Synthetic marijuana, marketed as K2 incense, Spice, “legal weed” and other names, is an herbal substance sold as incense or smoking material. The products contain one or more synthetic compounds that mimic the effects of marijuana. The mixture of herbs and chemicals varies with different manufacturers.

On June 23 — five days after Brandon was placed on the respirator — Gov. Tom Corbett signed legislation banning the sale of manufactured drugs, including synthetic marijuana and synthetic cocaine known as “bath salts,” because of the dangers. The ban goes into effect Aug. 23.

Dr. Robert Whipkey, director of emergency services for Excela Health System in Westmoreland County, noted that studies are in progress, but synthetic marijuana is known to pose many dangers.

“It’s 10 times as potent as run-of-the-mill marijuana and hits the brain so hard it creates other problems,” he said.

“Anything taken to excess causes problems, and this is 10 times as powerful, plus it could be contaminated, which has other side effects. With such high doses, you may notice increased heart pressure, delusions, many unpleasant symptoms,” Whipkey said.

continue