A synthetic marijuana called K2, also known as Spice was first identified in December 2008. It has an active ingredient called ‘JHW-018’ in which compound can be produced is similar to the high of marijuana. Only K2 does not produce positive drug test.
According to ‘American (–foul word(s) removed–)ociation of Poison Control Centers’ there were fourteen cases of K2 exposure in 48 states plus the District of Columbia in 2009. That number of cases exploded to 2,888 in 2010. And this year there have been already around 1,000 and there are 151 Navy sailors have been accused of possessing or using the drug in the last four months alone.
In the U.S. Naval Academy there are eight midshipmen expelled last month for using K2.
According to several experts K2 is widely available and relatively inexpensive; it has been sold everywhere even at some gas stations.
The report said, the 3-gram package of ‘K2 Peach’ can be bought at $59.95. There is a package said “Not for consumption” and a small leaflet said “Not for human consumption” 3 times.
K2 is usually consumed by athletes. Whoever uses K2 is at particular risk, the expert said.
“For Athletes who take the K2, you run the danger of having a tendency of cardiovascular effects,” said David Kroll in the Pharmaceutical Sciences at North Carolina University.
NCAA Division I athlete admitted to the reporter on condition of anonymity that he uses the K2. “We tried K2 and realized that the effect is similar to weed. The first time you use it you will do something that you should not be doing but you cannot get out of trouble for it” said D-I athlete.
“There are times that you feel your heart is going to come out of your chest and explode. Your pulse just goes up like crazy. You feel sometimes you are going to die. But the next morning you still wake up and you are like… its fine again,” said the D-I athlete.
“You’re just chill if you smoke weed, but when you smoke K2, you’re messed up,” added D-I athlete.
“K2 is available anywhere, no matter what laws they p(–foul word(s) removed–), there will be a way to get it around” said the D-I athlete.
Out of many reports about the effect of using K2 but there are no confirmed deaths, however the report from the ‘Drug Abuse Warning Network’ about 374 emergency room admits because of K2 and similar substance will be a good reminders.
JWH-018 is one of the synthetic forms of marijuana added to the DEA’s lists.
The DEA is planning to keep K2 illegal. The NCAA has also decided to ban K2 effective August 1 this year.
Mary Wilfert NCAA (–foul word(s) removed–)ociate Director of Health and Safety said, “We don’t have punishment until student tests positive and presently there is no test for K2.”