Fake High, Real Danger!

Synthetic marijuana is commonly known as Spice, “legal,” UR, 2nd Gen, Aroma Therapy, Herbal Sachets, K2, and a number of different generic names.

These products usually consist of plant material, such as damiana leaves laced with synthetic cannabinoids that have been disolved in a solvent, such as acetone or formaldehyde.

What are Synthetic Cannabinoids:

Most synthetic cannabinoids are categorized as “poison” by legitimate laboratories, which are required to post ‘Material Safety Data Sheets’ when handling these chemicals:

Ingesting Spice has been compared to Russian Roulette:

Everyone reacts to the many different synthetic cannabinoids differently.  So, if a manufacturer changes the chemical they are using to lace their plant material, you may have a severe reaction, even though you had previously not experienced bad reactions to that particular brand.

What Does Fake Pot Look Like?

• Similar appearance to marijuana or dried leaves of potpourri.
• It is usually sold in 1 to 3 gram packages.
• Packed in colorful square metallic envelopes or small canisters.

Occasionally, Cannabinoids are also occasionally sold in other forms, such as candy, brownies, drops.

Reported Side Effects

• Cardiac Arrest
• Heart Attacks
• Vomiting
• Strokes
• Increased Blood Pressure
• Increased Heart Rate
• Partial Paralysis
• Increased Body Temperature
• Temporary Inability to Feel Pain
• Seizures
• Paranoid Delusions
• Depression
• Hallucinations
• Exaggerated Thoughts of Suicide
• Feeling of Impending Doom (Death)
• Tremors
• Panic Attacks
• Excessive Sweating
• Kidney Failure

Side effects may continue for several months! If you see someone with these symptoms, call 911 or Poison Control at 800-222-1222.

Why is “Fake Pot” so popular?

• It can’t be detected in standard drug tests.
• Not long ago, it was sold in nearly every gas station, convenient store and tobacco store in most communities.  In some states, it’s still sold in stores.
• Because it was (is) sold in stores, it was thought to be safe.  Many consider it to be a safe, and sometimes legal, alternative to marijuana.  However, it can be as dangerous as herion, meth and PCP.
• Many young people do not follow the media reports of deaths and hospitalizations.

Why Should I be Concerned?

• While most people smoke Spice as a marijuana alternative, it can be 10-500 times more potent. depending on the chemical compounds and potency.
• Every package purchased is a mystery package. Each has a different amount of unknown chemicals “randomly” sprayed. In other words, you don’t know what you are getting, and it has not been scientifically tested.
• “Not for Human Consumption” is stamped on the packaging to bypass FDA rules.
• Although Fake Pot has been federally banned, the “bad guys” are steps ahead, so that when one chemical compound is banned, they are ready with a new one

What Do We Know Scientifically?

• Not Enough!!!
• Few studies have been conducted to know short- or long-term effects

What Is Being Reported?

• Use is dramatically increasing!
• Poison Control received 2,925 calls related to Fake Pot in 2010.
• In 2011, the number of calls rose to a dramatic 6,955.
• The DEA and other authorities believe that there are many more cases that have gone unreported. Of the cases reported to the To the Maximus Foundation, none were reported to Poison Control.
• More and more users are coming forward to report the effects. It is believed that there are many deaths attributed to fake pot use. However, because the deaths are directly attributed to accidents or suicide, they are not statistically recorded as caused by synthetic marijuana. We keep a list of those reported in the news.
• Synthetic Marijuana is an 18 billion dollar industry

What can you do?

Talk to your legislators and Attorney General.  Give them the information included in the article which you can find in the link below: