Kansas Politician Pledges a Fight against Legal Synthetic Marijuana Blends
Teens in Kansas are getting high on a legal synthetic marijuana-like blend.
Marijuana smokers in Kansas are getting around drug tests by using a synthetic version of marijuana, called K2.
K2, which is sold online and in ‘head’ shops, is thought to contain synthetic cannibanoids. A three gram package retails for about $20 and it produces a high that is similar to a marijuana high.
As a new substance, it remains unregulated and thus legal for sale and consumption, and since drug tests do not screen for it, it cannot be detected in conventional testing.
But that may all change in the near future.
Kansas State representative, Peggy Mast says she is researching the drug now with an aim to introducing legislation to criminalize the drug in the upcoming legislative session. Mast summed up her concerns, saying, “We don't know where it's coming from, there's no quality control on this product. We don't know, the people who are selling it, what they're cutting it with, we don't the dangers are kids are taking by experimenting with it."
Mast has previously led effort to criminalize the hallucinogenic drug, salvia.
More like this
K2 – Health Officials Say Synthetic Marijuana Can Make You Sick
Legislators are worried about K2 and other synthetic marijuana products that are legal and for sale in 49 states. Health officials say these herbal products can be dangerous and that since they’re produced in unregulated ‘dorm room labs’ – there’s no way to say what’s really in them.
Dallas Debates the “War On Drugs”
Last week, the Dallas Morning News printed a column by the local CEO of Mothers Against Teen Violence - Joy Strickland, arguing that the “war on drugs” puts our children at risk and that national drug laws have failed to minimize the availability of illicit drugs.
APA Says Regular Marijuana Use Is 'Bad for Teen Brains'
Though many perceive marijuana to be relatively harmless, researchers from the APA urge those considering legalization to keep cannabis away from underage consumers.
Marijuana Protects "Stressed" Rats from Opiate Addiction
Rats that grow up in stressful environments get addicted to opiates more easily than rats that grow up under normal conditions. However, if "stressed" rats are given high doses of THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) during adolescence they become far less addicted to opiates given later in life.
Heavy and Long-Term Marijuana Use Causes Brain Shrinkage
Australian researchers have found that heavy marijuana smoking men exhibited significant brain shrinkage in the hippocampus and the amygdala.