The majority of people are familiar with the dangers posed by marijuana's abuse, but a disturbing trend has emerged concerning the use of synthetic marijuana. These products-known by some as "legal weed"-are supposed to mimic the effects of marijuana; however, users have experienced a number of adverse reactions. In the hopes of raising community awareness, it is important to understand more about these products, their effects, where can they be purchased, and if they are truly legal.

These products are essentially exotic herbs that have been chemically treated with synthetic cannabinoids (manufactured both domestically and internationally). They are deceptively marketed as herbal incense and are sold under common brand names like K2, K3, Spice, MOJO, Dream, Blaze II, Spice Gold, Spike 99, Redbird, and Genie. Some packages even display a "not for human consumption" label in order to evade the scrutiny of law enforcement and the FDA. When these products are ingested, they are meant to produce an experience similar to smoking marijuana, but many of these herbal incenses contain varying concentrations and potencies of one or more synthetic cannabinoids. This can lead to inconsistent effects on the user, including the following: agitation, anxiety, elevated blood pressure, hallucinations, numbness, pallor, tachycardia (rapid heart rate), tingling, vomiting and in some cases tremors and seizures. The increased usage has led to a rise in synthetic marijuana-related inquiries to the U.S. Poison Control Centers and emergency room visits. In 2008, the U.S. Poison Control Centers received zero calls related to the use of synthetic cannabinoids; but, in just the first five months of 2010, they fielded 352 requests regarding the substance.

Initially, these products were readily available for purchase at small, independent retail establishments such as head shops, skateboard shops, gas stations, and adult stores in Pennsylvania and many other states. The internet is another popular way to obtain these products which were legal in Pennsylvania until 2011. Since then legislation was passed making the sale, distribution, and possession of these synthetic cannabinoids illegal. However, manufacturers of these products are continuously looking for ways to circumvent our laws and new products may surface that are currently beyond the reach of our justice system.

Working together with this knowledge can help prevent this illegal substance from affecting our families. If you have any questions concerning drug use or trends or would like to speak with an officer concerning any law enforcement topic, please do not hesitate to contact us at (215)968-3020.

Starting March 26th and running until the 30th, the township will be sweeping the streets in neighborhood developments. In order to help us efficiently and completely clean our area roads, please keep cars, trash cans, and other items off the roadway.