'SPICE' ISN'T NICE

Emilio Padilla tried it for about a month. It wasn't a great
experience.

The synthetic marijuana commonly known by the brand name "Spice" is
not yet illegal, but Emilio, a 16-year-old junior at Flagstaff High
School, is done with it.

He'd heard a few things about the herb blend officially marketed as
incense and smoked like marijuana.

"That it gets you high, and it has catnip," he said.

"And you can't get drug-tested for it," added another student, who
wanted to remain anonymous.

That boy tried it three times, and found himself with a bad headache
and feverish feeling in his face.

Emilio was paranoid and coughed up blood. The high was short and the
stuff tasted nasty.

It's bad for you, the boys said.

That's the message school authority figures want to share with
youngsters.

'Engineered Marijuana'

Officer David Needham from the Flagstaff Police Department visits
local schools as a Drug Abuse Resistance and Education, or DARE,
officer. He said elementary school students don't seem too aware of
Spice, but middle school students are asking questions. Some have
already tried it.

Spice is not yet in the DARE curriculum, but Needham still talks about
it. He said students have heard a lot of things and want to know what
it is. He calls it "engineered marijuana" and tries to explain the
molecular breakdown -- how the active ingredient is chemically similar
to THC, the active component in natural marijuana. He also uses Spice
conversations to talk about the negative effects of marijuana.

Even before the federal Drug Enforcement Agency put the active
ingredients on a short list, he also told them it was a matter of time
before it was banned. That day will come Dec. 24.

"Because so little is known about it I'm afraid that some of these
kids are going to think it's safe," Needham said. "You know how the
rumor mill works at schools: 'It's not marijuana, it's not gonna hurt
ya.' That's how heroin made a comeback: 'Dude, it's not like meth.'"

Banned Under School Drug Policy

Flagstaff High Principal Tony Cullen said the prevalence of Spice at
his school, the largest in Flagstaff, isn't as severe as other drugs
or tobacco, but he's keeping an eye on it.

FUSD Assistant Superintendent Bob Kuhn said students caught with the
synthetic marijuana at school are disciplined according to the
district's drug policy. That means a 5- to 10-day, out-of-school
suspension and police involvement. A second offense is another 10-day
suspension, police involvement and a discipline hearing that could
result in alternative placement or expulsion.

Selling drugs at school carries even stiffer penalties. A first
offense would lead to long-term suspension or expulsion, plus police
notice.

More Complex Than Tobacco

Cullen said Spice is new to parents, and some parents that he's spoken
to don't realize that it's more complex than tobacco.

He began studying the substance about two years ago, combing the
internet and visiting smoke shops. He keeps a sample in his office so
colleagues can recognize it. He's also invited a representative from
Norchem, a Flagstaff-based drug-testing company that is one of the few
in the country to test for Spice, to give a presentation to parents.

"It's been around for a couple years but all of a sudden this year
we're starting to see it in the schools," he said.

[sidebar]

IF YOU GO ...

WHAT: Educational forum on Spice

WHEN: Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Flagstaff High School commons, 400 W. Elm Ave.

ETC: Parents from any school invited. Meeting will cover other topics,
including possible late starts at middle and high schools.