Police chief looks into possible ban of synthetic marijuana
Police Chief looking into whether ordinance would be prudent
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MEET K2Most synthetic marijuana sells in grams and costs anywhere from $24 to $36 a packet.
It has many product names, including "Spice," "Hypno," "Freedom," "Cloud 10," and "VooDoo."
The synthetic marijuana is known to cause:
Hallucinations
...- SHOW ALL »
MEET K2Most synthetic marijuana sells in grams and costs anywhere from $24 to $36 a packet.
It has many product names, including "Spice," "Hypno," "Freedom," "Cloud 10," and "VooDoo."
The synthetic marijuana is known to cause:
Hallucinations
Severe agitation
Vomiting
Elevated heart rate
Elevated blood pressures
Tremors and seizures
Donna Shook worries her shop, D&D Novelties, will lose business if one of its most popular items is banned in Victoria.
The item is known as K2, an incense being smoked as synthetic marijuana, and Police Chief Bruce Ure is looking to put a stop to its sale.
Ure has been reviewing whether an ordinance banning the herbal incense would be a prudent move.
"I think it's clear that the manufacturers have found a loophole," Ure said. "They are selling it under the pretext that it's an incense. I would bet the farm that not one is using it as aroma therapy."
At least nine stores in Victoria sell the product, which is a mixture of herbs and spices sprayed with a chemical compound similar to the one found in marijuana, Ure said.
The product is known by several names, such as "spice," "genie," and "smoke," and its use in the past several months, locally and nationally, is widespread and increasing, he said.
The product is found at convenience stores and head shops, but Ure did not disclose names of local sellers as fear of more widespread usage.
The high produced by smoking the incense is similar, if not, more dangerous than smoking marijuana, Ure said.
The product can cause panic attacks, hearts palpitations, short-term memory loss and even seizures, he added.
The trend is not only local.
At least 10 states have some form of a ban on K2.
Texas is one of the leading states using synthetic marijuana in the U.S., according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers.
Utah, Missouri, Indiana and Georgia are also on the list.
Bans are even being seen on the local level, with several cities that have signed ordinances, like Victoria is considering.
"If you can't sell marijuana, you certainly should not be able to sell K2," Ure said.
Shook agrees the product should not be smoked and should only be used for aroma therapy, as stated on its label.
However her job is to legally buy the product and to sell it to customers.
She has no control if a buyer abuses the product, she said.
"They are taking people's rights away to something that is totally legal," she said. "Whatever they do with it, that's their business."
Even if the herbal incense is legal, it still has similar effects of marijuana, if not worse, said Stephanie Bassano, an alcohol and drug abuse counselor at Mid-Coast Family Services.
"It can do more harm than regular marijuana due to the fact that it's manufactured," said Bassano, who has been with Mid-Coast for 12 years. "It only just came up pretty recently."
The novelty store has been selling it for about six months, Shook said.
Bassano heard about K2 during a July conference with the Texas Association of Addiction Professionals.
So far, she has not counseled anyone, but wouldn't doubt if they soon trickled in, she said.
Nationally, poison centers have reported 1,057 calls about K2 and its related products, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System.
Locally, the use of the product is "clearly on the radar," Ure said.
Police officers have encountered people high under the substance over the past several months, he said.
"There is definitely a lack of empirical data on this," he said. "It's difficult to poll the masses to find out who is using it."
Bassano's bigger fear is the easy access to people under 18; however, Shook makes sure no one under 18 is allowed in her shop.
But she can't vouch for other shops who carry the product, she added.
Ure understands otherwise.
"We're lead to believe that your age matters very little in the overall scheme of buying it in Victoria," he said.
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They are absolutely full of it. They were banning K2 and the like before they actually started research on any possible side effects. Don't be foolish. They don't care about the well-being of Americans, otherwise the FDA and Big Pharma wouldn't be getting away with all the toxins they push on us! Provided there are age restrictions, If someone wants some k2 herb, who are you to tell them that they can't have it? If someone wants to, they will buy k2 smoke whether it's legal or not as that is what happens with anything else that is unjustly and ridiculously prohibited. K2 incense will be no different. Plus, the formulas are constantly changing. http://www.k2incense.org Offers several products that are legal all over the world.
March 16, 2011 at noonBigtexan...If all those other states jumped off a bridge, would you want Texas to jump, too?
August 30, 2010 at 7:44 a.m.Pilot, (PTSD)
If you knew what you were even talking about, someone might take what you say seriously...do you have any idea the amount of medical, psychological, and documented PROOF that must be submitted these days for the VA to issue a disability rating (especially above 40%) for PTSD...and by the way I also have TBI (kinda hard to "fake" shrapnel in my head)...your comments are disrespectful, closeminded and demonstrate the kind of thinking that , gratefully IS changing within the military establishment and the VA...when you say things like that in a public forum, you denigrate a VERY real condition that effects not only warriors but their families as well in very fundamental ways...
by the way, when and where did YOU serve? Or were there more important things for you?
August 26, 2010 at 9:58 a.m.Does anyone know anything about the synthetic cocaine being sold as bath salts? I have heard the drug users are using it like cocaine and staying up 38-40 hours at a time. There have been a few people that were supposed to have died. That is just what I have heard. It is being sold at some convenience stores so I am told. To me it is just hearsay but some one else maybe a medical person has had some dealings with this new synthetic drug. I also hear the police are aware of this drug but are not concerned. That is just what I have heard. Does anyone know anything or have you heard about it?
August 26, 2010 at 5:52 a.m.If we are going to vote in November then just put it on the ballot and let the people vote. That would solve the problem, would'nt it?
August 26, 2010 at 5:43 a.m.the drug dealers do not care whether a substance is banned or not!
August 24, 2010 at 3:28 p.m.the ban will only affect the owners of stores that sell it! is that what that helicopter has been doing the past 2 nights! surveillance on the users? I have a feeling big brother is watching!
August 24, 2010 at 3:22 p.m.The Drug Enforcement Agency considers it to be a "drug of concern". Several states have passed acts making it illegal under state law however, including Kansas in March 2010, Georgia and Alabama in May 2010 and Tennessee and Missouri in July 2010. An emergency order was passed in Arkansas in July 2010, banning the sale of synthetic cannabis. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, several other states are also considering legislation, including Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Ohio.
That being said, Texas should ban it as well.
August 24, 2010 at 3:01 p.m.HERE WE GO AGAIN ON THE ELECTION YEAR... from what I have seen Victoria Voters need to go to the poles and vote these JERKS out of office. I agree with many of you here. This is NOT ILLEGAL! If they ban this, then what's to stop them from banning other stuff, alcohol, fire arms, the right to assemble,.... etc ..
What is the reasoning behind this? I went out and bought some right after reading all this. If I would have went out and bought some alcohol and tried that, would you even raise an eyebrow... NO~!
We all have to stand up for our rights here! We can't let these crooked politians and their flunkies strip us of our rights!
And voting is the only way to do it... just pick the lesser of the evils... that's all I can say and PROTEST ... go to meetings and be heard!!
August 24, 2010 at 3:26 a.m.Victore:
August 22, 2010 at 10:34 p.m.Name one person who has died or ODed fro MJ?
If the chief wants to ban K2 he needs to ban all porn and strip clubs in town. We all see what officials due when they get online as well as what they do behind closed doors. I am sure a few smoke it.
August 22, 2010 at 10:33 p.m.I have educated my kids to the extreme but a parent can tell ans how their children whatever they want but if they hang around with kids that are doing these things then eventually they will try it. I know. I had a few months of very streeful times with my oldest and it was in no way because i did not educate him. I have warned them about drugs and alcohol since they were little and have even witnessed what drugs do to people and still he experimented. It is up to us as adults and parents to guide them in the right direction but they will and have to make their own choices. Good or bad. I would like to ban everything out there that is bad for my children but in reality we just can't do that. All we can do is try our hardest to make them make the right choices but if they make wrong choices it doesn't mean we are bad parents. I have since corrected the problem with my child and pray to God that he is on the right path.
August 22, 2010 at 10:23 p.m.if they can fire you for having booze in your system, they sure as hell will be able to fire you for having a certain amount of legal marijuana in your system.
August 22, 2010 at 10:12 p.m.First let me say this, I am a Service Connected Disabled Veteran with Combat Service in two wars...this herbal product is a GOD SEND, it helps treat and manage things like nightmares, headaches associated with TBI, and a variety of issues stemming from long-term chronic PTSD, such as insomnia....ALL THE "HORROR" STORIES you are hearing here are being passed on by those that HAVE NOT used or RESPONSIBLY used these herbs, or that have a vested interest in treating it like an illicit "drug" in order to gain payment or re-imbursment for "treatment" and "rehabilitation" programs. (usually court ordered and mandated)... It is NOT "PCP"...IT IS NOT a "poison"...It is NOT 'legal marijuana'... This mixture or herbs and a minute amout of a specifically engineered compound (produced under lab conditions) has the potential to all but eliminate the money-fueled violence and corruption currently held by drug gangs and cartels (we have LOST the "War on Drugs", just so you know)...as well as eliminate the MUCH more destructive costs of alcoholism via self medicating behaviors.
When a State like Texas hand-cuffs a significant percentage of it's citizens by insisting on denying physicians the right to responsibly prescribe cannibus and other long-proved treatments to those that can benefit from them, the PEOPLE WILL TAKE POWER AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for their own treatment, as they should...
You know what else causes increased heart rate, sweating, euphoric feelings (well, if done right)...SEX...gonna outlaw that next? How about running, that's been know to increase heartrate..and I promise you more people died from taking a jog last year than from herbal incense.
August 22, 2010 at 7:45 p.m.the synthetic mary jane you guys are talking about does not have all these horrible side effects to all who partake. it may have side effects on very few people to the extent yall are speaking of. but so does any pharmacutical. its completly legal, why infringe on our rights? as bruce ure said "I can bet the farm their not using it for aroma therapy." well i'll bet the farm, the white house and anyone else that, the paraphenalia sold in these stores isn't used for tobacco. they have the right to sell those products so they have the right to sell inscence. how they use it is not the stores fault. you haven't shut down any novelity shops for their sale of pipes and such, oh wait because IT'S LEGAL, so how can you stop the sale of K2? i guess these crooked cops in big vic will try to find a loophole somewhere. SMOKE ON!!!!!!!!
August 22, 2010 at 6:43 p.m.WOW...I never knew of this until now! How weird, but scary at the same time.
August 22, 2010 at 6:40 p.m.where's the Tea Movement when you need them?
August 22, 2010 at 6:37 p.m.K2 sounds similar to GHB, which is known as the date rape drug. It does elevate the body temperature and heart rate along with hallucination, severe agitation and vomiting which can cause death. Maybe it’s the new PCP, you know the drug that is used to take down large animals, it was used in MJ. Then you have those that claim MJ is safe, yeah I got some swamp land that I will sell you.
August 22, 2010 at 4:32 p.m.This is not pot - there is no such thing as synthetic pot. I know!!!
August 22, 2010 at 3:59 p.m.this is good advertising for the stores that carry K-2!
August 22, 2010 at 3:31 p.m.I just recently heard about K2 (synthetic pot) & have never tried it. However, while we are banning stuff that is bad for us....why not ban cigarrettes, chewing tobacco, french fries, hamburgers, tacos and tanning beds....how far is "too far"?.....
August 22, 2010 at 3:24 p.m.Why do people want to get high? Our cutlure is really gone to pot.
August 22, 2010 at 2:14 p.m.I have done my research on this incense. I have found no deaths related directly to k-2. I do understand peoples concerns of the effects it may cause. And have also found, if it is abused, like anything else, WILL cause problems!
August 22, 2010 at 2:03 p.m.When you have a gentleman in his late 60's who fought in Vietnam and has had nightmares over this, And all medications he has been given, has not helped, has turned to k-2 to help him sleep soundly, its worth carrying!
If the chief of police should ban this in Victoria, I will understand and comply. Everyones entitled to their opinion, as well as I.
Donna Shook Owner D&D Novelties.
the chief is on a "roll"!
August 22, 2010 at 12:44 p.m.People of all ages admitted to me that they smoke this stuff. 100% of them said they smoke it because Pot is illegal. Legalizing pot eliminates the use of this drug sprayed with a synthetic compound.
August 22, 2010 at 12:13 p.m.there have been death with this in Dallas last week and other death. yes i do now mrs shook
August 22, 2010 at 9:48 a.m.Unfortunately, banning K2 will lead to "the smokers" to find something else to inhale. It would be more effective if the manufacturer could add an ingredient that prevents people from smoking the stuff, but using it for what it was intended for would not affect the aroma.
August 22, 2010 at 9:46 a.m.Then again, the habitual user will find something else to smoke.
HEY, I GOT ANOTHER IDEA! Place some cow manure in K2 and call it "FARM FRESH COUNTRY AIR" and sell it to tourists!
--------------------just a thought and my 2 cents-----------------------
Ok first of all we shouldn't bad mouth anyone on here. Who cares about her eyeliner? I mean really. Let's be adults. Second of all, I have teenage kids and I think it's plain sickening that we as parents work so hard to keep them straight and drug free and then something like this comes along. They have such easy access to it and I think it's wrong. It's not healthy for one and for two can cause damaging effects. i have spoken to a doctor about this so yes I agree that it should be banned. I do not agree with it at all. If marijuana is illegal then so should this stuff.
August 22, 2010 at 9:42 a.m."The synthetic marijuana is known to cause hallucinations, severe agitation, vomiting, and an elevated heart rate."
Dang, sounds like what booze does to you doesn't it? I wonder if the purchasing of this synthetic weed is hurting the drug dealers while helping the sales tax out?
Don't make it illegal to purchase...add additional taxes to it.
The more we can do do hurt the drug dealers the better and there is no better way to do that than to cut off the demand.
August 22, 2010 at 9:40 a.m.you can still buy it online
maybe they will have to spend tax dollars on
K2 drug sniffing doggies too LOL***
Will that become a citywide or county wide ban?
it would be extremely difficult to enforce county wide!
August 22, 2010 at 9:31 a.m.There have been no deaths caused by K2 that I can find. The fears are unfounded.
August 22, 2010 at 8:33 a.m.sbenina, do you know ms. shook? to be able to judge her character? probably not. i agree with familyman1122, alcohol is surely much more dangerous than this stuff, please when was the last time anybody has heard of somebody beating their wife because they were on marijuana. dont let them fool you, the higher up official probably enjoy a toke every now and then.
August 22, 2010 at 8:31 a.m.It is not the job of government to be your parent. This police chief is obviously no constitutionalist.
August 22, 2010 at 8:24 a.m.If you ban it they will go out of town to get it. Why not just tax the heck out of it to make too expensive to buy and that should solve the problem. Maybe the tax will help improve the streets of the city. If the state has not banned it then the city should not ban it. If it is banned then why not ban alcohol sales again? Alcohol kills more innocent people than K2 or synthetic marijuana does. Why not tax alcohol highly also? Get more revenue! Does anyone have the specs on deaths due to alcohol and the deaths due to synthetic marijuana?
August 22, 2010 at 5:12 a.m.if the state isn't going to ban it, then the county needs to step up on this one.
August 22, 2010 at 3:56 a.m.The synthetic marijuana is known to cause hallucinations, severe agitation, vomiting, and an elevated heart rate. Why would anyone want to do that to their body and mind? I say, ban it, get it off the streets and out of the hands of STUPID people! What is next? That is crazy!
August 22, 2010 at 1:31 a.m.