- EMERGING DRUG TRENDS - SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA AND SKITTLES PARTIES 2012 - EMERGING DRUG TRENDS - SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA AND SKITTLES PARTIES

SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA WHAT IS IT? Commonly referred to as K2 or SPICE. It is a dried blend of herbs and spices that is sprayed with a synthetic chemical. This product is smoked like a cigarette. When consumed, K2 or Spice mimics the effects of Marijuana.

SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA K2 is sold as incense or potpourri and is commonly purchased in tobacco shops, head shops, gas stations, convenience stores and over the Internet. It is often marketed as incense or “fake weed.” It is important for parents to realize that K2 is not illegal in every state so it is easily accessible for purchase over the Internet.

Synthetic marijuana

SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA Common street names: Spice Spice Gold Spice Silver Spice Diamond Fire & Ice Demon Genie Black Widow Black Buddha Dank

SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA IT IS OFTEN LABELED AS “POTPOURRII” AND “NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION”

Synthetic Marijuana

Synthetic marijuana PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE NOTED THE INTENSE EFFECTS OF SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA. SOME HAVE FOUND THAT THE CHEMICALS USED IN THE MANUFACTURING OF SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA CAN CAUSE IT’S EFFECTS TO BE 10 TIMES MORE POTENT THAN MARIJUANA. IN LARGE DOSES, SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA CAN CAUSE SEVERE HALLUCINATIONS AND DISORIENTATION THAT CAN LAST FOR DAYS.

SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA WHY IS IT SO POPULAR? IT’S NOT ILLEGAL! IT IS SEEN AS A “SAFE” ALTERNATIVE TO MARIJUANA BY TEEN AGERS IT IS EASY TO BUY IT IS UNTRACEABLE IN DRUG SCREENS WITH IN TWO HOURS OF USE.

Synthetic Marijuana THIS IS A VERY PROFITABLE ITEM! A local store has reported that they have made over $400.00 in profit on a typical Saturday in the sale of this stuff alone! Some days, they will arrive to open up for business and will have 8-9 people waiting for them just so they can buy their synthetic marijuana. All the stores we talked to stated that they will not sell this stuff to anyone under 18 or 21. We have had contacts with minors as young as 13, telling us that they have bought the product themselves.

Synthetic marijuana REPORTED SIDE EFFECTS: Soaring heart rates Respiratory issues Panic attacks Paranoia, Hallucinations Delusions Vomiting Increased Agitation

IS IT LEGAL? On October 1, 2010, Public Act 171 of 2010 went into effect, banning the sale, purchase and possession of synthetic marijuana in Michigan. Penalties for violation of the law carry a maximum fine of $2,000.00 and one year’s imprisonment.

MORE INFORMATION Details of House Bill 6038 are available at www.legislature.mi.gov. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has classified synthetic cannabinoids as drugs of concern. Additional information about K2 Spice is available at the DEA’s website at www.dea.gov. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATURES!!!!!!

SKITTLES PARTY A party where a bunch of teenagers or young adults get together with a lot of random pills or prescription medications They put them all into a pile and every one takes a few. You don't know exactly what you take.

SKITTLES PARTIES ALSO KNOWN AS: Pharming parties “pharming for meds at home” Trail Mix

SKITTLES PARTIES Your prescription medications are readily accessible to your kids/family/friends. Where is the most common place people keep their medications Bathroom Bedroom Kitchen

SKITTLES PARTIES DANGEROUS!!!!!!! If you overdose on a buffet of various types of medications, how will the medical professionals know how to treat you? Stimulants Depressants Painkillers Heart meds