LEGISLATOR WANTS TO CRIMINALIZE POSSESSION OF SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA

HARRISBURG -- Some call it "K2." Others call it "genie," "spice" or
"legal bud."

State Rep. Jennifer Mann calls it dangerous.

The Lehigh Valley Democrat is renewing her effort to criminalize
possession of synthetic marijuana.

A similar proposal overwhelmingly passed the House this fall but the
legislative session closed before the bill could come to a vote in the Senate.

The product, which sells online and in smoke shops for $10 to $20 an
ounce, is made from plant products sprayed with chemicals that, when
smoked, mimic the effects of marijuana.

It is marketed as incense, but Ms. Mann has yet to meet anyone who
claims to use it for that purpose.

"Who would pay that much money to watch something burn in a few
seconds?" she asked.

"In reality, there seems to be an insatiable opportunity to find a
means to get high, and people are always trying to circumvent the law
to achieve that. We always seem to be a step behind in preventing
it," she said.

The real danger is that users think it must be safe; otherwise it
wouldn't be legal, she said.

"That's startling to me. That's alarming," she said.

The bill would outlaw possession of five chemicals commonly used to
make synthetic marijuana. It also prohibits possession of salvia, a
plant with similar properties to marijuana.

Research laboratories would be eligible for permits that would allow
them to use the substances in their experiments, said Rich Pronesti,
Ms. Mann's chief of staff.

State Rep. Mark Cohen, a Democrat from Philadelphia, is the only
House member to vote against the bill in the last session.

"I'm skeptical that this bill would do much good," said Mr. Cohen, a
vocal supporter of legalizing the use of marijuana for medical
purposes. "The problem with outlawing these specific chemical
compounds is that people will come up with other variations. Unless
you figure out a way to stop people from coming up with variations of
the compounds, you aren't accomplishing very much."

To have a real effect, the legislation has to be written more broadly, he said.

Even then, though, he isn't sure whether he would support it.

Meanwhile, Ms. Mann is encouraging parents to learn about synthetic
marijuana and its effects so they can recognize its use and warn
their children of the dangers.

"It looks benign in a backpack or in a kids' pocket, but it's
dangerous," she said.

Synthetic marijuana is known to cause rapid heart rate, elevated
blood pressure, anxiety, nausea and hallucinations.

NORML -- the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
- -- hasn't taken a stand on the issue. However, its executive director
Allan St. Pierre says there would be no need for synthetic versions
if marijuana was legalized.

"None of these products would have much of a marketplace if the
organic product was available. There's just no reason anyone would
want it," he said.