COALITION ALERTS PARENTS TO SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA

For the first time this year, a parent alert will be issued at the
beginning of the school year by the Garden City Community Coalition
for the Prevention of Substance Abuse.

The message is one the coalition hopes can also be relayed during
upcoming school orientations.

The substance of concern is a type of synthetic marijuana, known as
K2, a mixture of spices and herbs coated with a chemical similar to
the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, THC.

The chemical was created in 1995 by a professor studying the effects
of cannibinoids on the brain who never intended it to be marketed and
used as a recreational drug, said Susan Nicholas, executive director
of the coalition.

"The known chemical is banned in most of Europe, the U.S. military and
several states and there is no way to know what unknown chemicals are
also being added," she said.

"While there have not been any known deaths from K2, side effects
include vomiting, panic attacks, agitation and, elevated blood
pressure and heart rates and hallucinations." Nicholas said, adding
she has seen media reports that the state Poison Control line is
receiving an increase in calls about the substance, as much as eight
in one week.

Nicholas is asking parents to be on the alert for the product which is
often sold near the air fresheners in party stores and gas stations.

"We have recently been made aware of the dangerous new substance that
young people are ingesting and smoking to get high," Nicholas said.
Nicholas is active in several local coalitions and keeps abreast of
new developments.

"We are asking business owners to do the right thing and remove it
from their shelves," Nicholas said. "Although the substance is legal,
merchants selling 'potpourri' for $25 an ounce are clearly marketing
it to young people who will be using it in place of illegal drugs."

Parental disapproval to alcohol and drugs is still the best deterrent,
she said, urging parents to have open and honest dialogue with their
children.

Synthetic cannabis goes by several names including, K2, spice, skunk,
blue lotus, genie, fire & ice and J-dub, she said.

It is sold legally as incense or potpourri in two-to three-ounce
packages which are marked "Not for Human Consumption.

A bag of Spice Synthetic cannabis is a herbal and chemical product
which mimics the effects of cannabis.

When synthetic cannabis products first went on sale it was thought
that they achieved an effect through a mixture of legal herbs.
Laboratory analysis in 2008 showed this was not the case and that they
contained synthetic cannabinoids which act on the body in a similar
way to cannabinoids naturally found in cannabis, such as THC.

Synthetic cannabinoids, including CP 47,497; JWH-018; JWH-073; and
HU-210, are used in an attempt to avoid the laws which make cannabis
illegal, making synthetic cannabis a designer drug.

It has been sold under various brand names online, in head shops and
at some gas stations.

It is marketed as an incense or "herbal smoking blend" but the
products are usually smoked by users.

Although synthetic cannabis does not produce positive results in drug
tests for cannabis, it is possible to detect its metabolites in human
urine.

The synthetic cannabinoids contained in synthetic cannabis products
have been made illegal in many European countries, but remain legal
under federal law in the USA and Canada. Several states have made it
illegal under state law.

For more information, call Nicholas at (734) 793-1868 or e-mail her at
susann@gardencitymi.org .