THE GREEN GRINCH: SYNTHETIC POT'S DAYS NUMBERED

POMEROY - Products known as synthetic marijuana are being pulled from
store shelves beginning Dec. 24 not by the Grinch but by the
government.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has announced its seizing
control of five chemicals used to make the products in order to study
them - the ban will last for at least one year. This means beginning
on Christmas Eve, possessing products which contain these five
chemicals will be illegal. Chemicals being targeted are CP-47,497,
JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-200, cannabicyclohexanol. However, there are
other chemicals used to produce that synthetic high which means this
move many not slow down the sale of other fake pot products which
aren't using the five chemicals in question.

This emergency action by the DEA places products like K2 and Spice in
Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act along with other illegal
drugs like heroin and the real thing - marijuana. Products like K2 and
Spice are being sold at convenient and tobacco stores.

Though Meigs County is known for the "real thing," synthetic pot
products have been making their way into the local culture - including
the culture of local children. Meigs County Juvenile Court Judge Scott
Powell said back in October, the products were "spreading like
wildfire throughout the community." Powell remarked local children as
young as sixth graders had been caught smoking the synthetic products.

Kids, like adults, are drawn to synthetic marijuana both because it
can be legally purchased and because there were no drug screening
tests for it - until lately.

In the wake of synthetic marijuana, synthetic cocaine has also reared
its head on the national scene. Synthetic cocaine is often sold as
bath salts, commonly for $50 per half-gram. Like its fake pot
counterpart, packages of fake cocaine state "not for human
consumption." Both products have been linked to severe overdoses by
those who paid no attention to the warning label.