Tempe's Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking and Drug Use is helping to lead the way for local government and school officials to combat a new and dangerous substance threatening local youth. 

Synthetic cannabis, known most often as 'Spice' or 'K2', is a legal substance marketed since 2006 as a dried, herbal blend for use as incense or potpourri.  Though labeled as "not fit for human consumption", the product is often smoked or mixed with food or drink and is known to mimic the high of marijuana. 

Spice is accessible and affordable; typically sold in tobacco shops, headshops, convenience stores and online for anywhere from $10-$60 per gram.  A typical user is between 14-27 years old and because it is legal, many of these young people are convinced it is a safe product.

Spice is a mixture of herbal and spice plant products that are either sprayed or powdered with potent psychotropic drugs.  Due to the inconsistencies of the chemical makeup of the substance, potency can range anywhere from four to 100 times more potent than marijuana. This inconsistency can be very dangerous for users. 

 

• a marijuana "high" (often induced more quickly, more intensely and having a shorter duration than "real" marijuana
• hallucinations
• seizures/tremors
• coma/unconsciousness
• vomiting
• numbness/tingling
• elevated blood pressure and heart rate
• respiratory failure
• increased level of anxiety/agitation leading to panic attacks, and possible suicide attempts

Another concern over K2/Spice drugs is the fact that the human body stores the compounds for a long period of time and so far nothing is known about the metabolism of the chemical compounds in K2/Spice drugs.  It is possible some may be toxic and/or pharmacologically active and with inconsistent chemical compounds there is a higher risk of accidental overdosing.   

Dr. Huffman & Dr. Huestis (Chief of Chemistry/Drug Metabolism at National Institute for Drug Abuse) indicate that taking these drugs, is "hijacking the part of the brain important for many major functions: temperature control, food intake, perception, memory and problem solving. Many people taking these high-potency drugs are affecting important functions throughout their bodies-hormone functions for example." Doctors also express concern that the drugs may involve acute toxicity levels, possibly long term, as well as impacting cannabinoid receptors that regulate the body's immune system.

Efforts to Ban Use

Spice/K2 is illegal in several European countries, has been banned in 17 U.S. states under state law and by all branches of the U.S. military; however, it remains unregulated in Arizona.

On November 24, 2010 the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) used its emergency scheduling authority to temporarily control five chemicals used to make imitation marijuana products.  Except as authorized by law, this action will make possessing and selling these chemicals or the products that contain them illegal in the U.S. for at least one year.  This action will take place in the 30 days following Nov 24 so the DEA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services can further study whether these chemicals and products should be permanently controlled. 

In the meantime, the Tempe Union High School District to change the language in the District policy on drug use and possession.   It now includes "imitations of illegal drugs" in its language.  This not only addresses synthetic marijuana/cannabis, but will provide for a safeguard against the next designer drug created to imitate the affects of other illegal drugs. 

The Bottom Line 
 

Please keep in mind, all of this has come to fruition and to the attention of Tempe's Coalition, law enforcement and school officials in the past two months.  This is a moving target and new drug formulas with different, unknown chemical compounds are already surfacing. It is important to be aware of this volatile issue, and we will do our best to keep you up-to-date as new developments occur. 

For more information, please refer to the Coalition website www.tempe.gov/coalition