Synthetic marijuana products sold at smoke shops and some convenience stores under names such as “K2” and “Spice” will be banned in Washington state under emergency rules adopted by the state Board of Pharmacy this month.
The ban will take effect in early January — perhaps as soon as next week, according to state health department spokesman Donn Moyer. The pharmacy board just needs to make sure its paperwork is in order, Moyer said.
It has voted to classify synthetic cannabinoids as Schedule I controlled substances in Washington, making them illegal to manufacture, possess and sell.
“It’s already federally banned,” Moyer said. “While the federal rules and laws are helpful, it’s much more effective for local law enforcement and prosecutors to have state-level rules and laws to work with.”
It’s possible that the Legislature will take up the issue and pass a law, he said; meanwhile, this emergency rule will go into effect soon.
Commonly known as K2, Spice, Black Mamba and other product names, synthetic cannabinoids were originally developed for medical testing and research but gained popularity in recent years as legal cousins to marijuana. They are typically sold in foil packets that are labelled as incense, complete with the warning “Not For Human Consumption.” But sellers and buyers all know what’s really going to happen.
Earlier this year, a Vancouver drug-treatment facility, Daybreak Youth Services, contacted The Columbian to report many of its teenage clients saying synthetic pot is popular both because it’s legal — not detected by a standard urinalysis — and extremely potent.
“We hear pretty dramatic things about it,” said Sarah Denis, a counselor at Daybreak, after learning of the state ban. “We keep hearing the same thing — kids coming through here were trying to get away with (urinalysis tests) so they started using Spice.
“I’m glad to hear (lawmakers are) doing something as quickly as possible. It’s really starting to catch on with these kids.”
The Washington Poison Center reported an eightfold increase this year in calls about synthetic pot over calls in 2009.
Several recent vehicle accidents under investigation by law enforcement have been linked to drivers using synthetic marijuana. And there have been reports of synthetic marijuana causing paranoia, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, vomiting, seizures and other health problems.
For more information visit the Washington State Board of Health’s Board of Pharmacy website at http://www.doh.wa.gov/hsqa/professions/pharmacy.
