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'Fake' Marijuana K2 Gets Kids Perilously High

Mix of herbs sprayed with psychotropic compound is legal, for now

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 4, 2010 2:20 PM CST
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(Newser) – The “fake weed” sweeping the US isn’t marijuana, but it packs a stronger punch—and it’s legal. “K2” or “spice” is a mix of herbs and a chemical compound that’s sold as incense at—coincidentally, we’re sure—the same price as real pot. The scientist who discovered the compound tells LiveScience it’s 10 times as potent as THC, the active ingredient in your traditional weed. He thinks kids in Europe got the idea of “doping this incense.”

Whatever its genesis, K2 has been responsible for severe hallucinations in teenagers who get their hands on it. In addition to the “potent psychotropic drug,” a doctor says, the mixture is “likely contaminated with an unknown toxic substance that is causing many adverse effects.” Those include increased heart rate, blood pressure, and agitation, none of which are connected to marijuana. What’s going on? The scientist can’t say, as it was never tested on humans, but on mice who were then killed. “And mice are not humans.”

In this Feb. 15, 2010 photo, Conner Moore, 20, displays a three-gram pack of K2 at his home in Columbia, Mo. The herbs and spices in K2 are sprayed with a synthetic compound which is chemically similar to THC.
In this Feb. 15, 2010 photo, Conner Moore, 20, displays a three-gram pack of K2 at his home in Columbia, Mo. The herbs and spices in K2 are sprayed with a synthetic compound which is chemically similar...   (AP Photo/Kelley McCall)
This Feb. 15, 2010, photo shows a package of K2 which contains herbs and spices sprayed with a synthetic compound chemically similar to THC.
This Feb. 15, 2010, photo shows a package of K2 which contains herbs and spices sprayed with a synthetic compound chemically similar to THC.   (AP Photo/Kelley McCall)
In this Feb. 15, 2010 photo, Conner Moore, 20, displays a three-gram package of K2, at his home in Columbia, Mo.
In this Feb. 15, 2010 photo, Conner Moore, 20, displays a three-gram package of K2, at his home in Columbia, Mo.   (AP Photo/Kelley McCall))
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 38 comments
katris
Dec 18, 2010 9:41 PM CST
who wrote this, a twelve yr old doing a book report or an tabloid writer? a "doctor" says so and a "scientist" wow, than it must be true. how about names we can check on...the same genius had to write that mouse are not human...disgusting propaganda. cannabis and its products are harmless...our body even produces them naturally so how can they be dangerous or illegal....this country just hasnt figured out a way to tax it yet so therefore it must be deemed dangerous and illegal
kcartman
Oct 25, 2010 6:31 PM CDT
www.k2info.org
M Peterson
Oct 17, 2010 10:32 AM CDT
I would say so, I ordered the 4 pack of K2, Pineapple Express, Buddah, and Green Kush from smoothspice.com, it took 4 days to receive, and it was pretty much like the same thing, I am on probation and this works out great. It wont be long before this gets banned to though sigh.. it seems safe though no side effects.

 
marijuana • cannabis • hallucination • weed • THC • K2 drug • fake weed • psychotropic

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