Article by: Dr Zoe Arugay
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Photo: CBS |
That's exactly the case with a synthetic form of marijuana that has been selling like hotcakes in most areas within the U.s., and has only been banned from 6 states.
Unlike the real deal, this drug, which has names like genie or spice, but more popularly known as K2, has become widespread on the internet and is still legal in around 44 states, although several lawmakers are on a quest to end this drug craze, with Missouri recently becoming the sixth state to ban K2.
Staffers at the Georgia Poison Center, have been swarmed with phonecalls reporting the popular drug nationwide, with around more than 500 people making those calls this year.
"We started seeing a mushroom of calls," reveals Dr. Gaylor Lopez, director of the Georgia Poison Center.
The synthetic marijuana is packaged in brightly colored bags and actually looks harmless. Lopez says that K2 is incredibly dangerous and can be up to 15 times powerful than marijuana. He also adds that it can lead to a disturbing range of symptoms.
"We've seen people with slight tremors to even seizure activity," Lopez said.
Yet, K2 is easily acquired online as well as magazines, and is not detected by drug tests. And according to DEA Special Agent Gary Boggs, the drug is usually marketed as an incense or bath salts.
Jason Schmider, a K2 drug user, has tried the drug more than 50 times until he ended up in the hospital. Next, he found himself at a drug treatment center called Phoenix House outside New York City.
"It was the scariest moment of my life. It's not worth it," Schmider recalls his experience.
