Dangers of synthetic drugs

Last week’s multi-county synthetic drug ring raid brings to light a growing concern in the area. The synthetic marijuana product ‘K2’ was briefly in the news in 2010 when state legislators passed laws banning sales of the product. Until that time it had been commonly available in many convenience stores around the state.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, synthetic cannabinoids (which includes K2) are “sold under many names, including K2, fake weed, Yucatan Fire, Skunk, Moon Rocks, and others — and labeled ‘not for human consumption’ — these products contain dried, shredded plant material and chemical additives that are responsible for their psychoactive (mind-altering) effects.”