Spice or synthetic marijuana has been linked to psychosis, brain, and kidney damage. Once selling in California for years, it is now legally banned.
PRLog - Feb. 13, 2014 - WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. -- Synthetic marijuana is nothing like what it was in the past. Within the recent years, a new designer drug has become available to the public and a lot of teens are using it; it’s called synthetic marijuana. Unlike old-fashioned naturally grown and cultivated marijuana, the synthetic version was sold over the counter at various retailers such as gas stations, convenience stations and corner grocery stores.
Synthetic marijuana products are also sold online and some websites have openly sold these products even since the law has gone into effect. Most websites claim the product poses no danger and contains no banned substances, but synthetic marijuana is far from a safe alternative.
Synthetic marijuana was sold under the names “K2,””Spice,” and “Red X Dawn.” The product was often marketed as a safer alternative to marijuana, but that was not the truth. Synthetic marijuana is a plant material which has been treated with a special coating of THC, which is the active ingredient in natural marijuana.
Even though synthetic marijuana somewhat resembles natural marijuana, scientific evidence indicates it is way more powerful. Because of this reason, the symptoms one experiences when it is smoked are more severe and include unconsciousness, psychotic episodes and extreme paranoia.
In 2011, the state of California made the sale, possession and distribution of synthetic marijuana illegal. Also added into law were the Health and Safety Code Section 11357.5, which makes selling, possessing or distributing synthetic marijuana punishable by arrest and a misdemeanor charge being filed.
Punishments for having small amounts of synthetic marijuana products are stricter than those for possessing natural marijuana. Possession of less than 28.5 grams marijuana is an infraction and more than 28.5 grams is a misdemeanor, but possessing the drug for sale is a felony.
As a misdemeanor charge, a juvenile with no previous record might be eligible to go into a drug diversion program after pleading guilty to the charge and are put on probation for a period of six months. If the youth then completes the drug educational classes, performs the sentenced community service, maintains passing grades in school and stays out of trouble, the charges would be dismissed at the end of six months.
Although prosecuting people for a crime involving synthetic marijuana is rare, the judges and district attorney’s office in California take these matters very seriously. Crackdown on synthetic marijuana might cause youngsters to try a safe approach and avoid using drugs altogether.
At the California Addiction Network, we have helped many people with their synthetic marijuana addiction. We have found through providing a continuum of care, coupled with comprehensive addiction treatment is the best way of helping people break their drug habit. Our caring clinicians have seen many cases of people from any age group who have fallen victim to synthetic marijuana and we know how to help you. Contact our program today, because you cannot imagine how hard it will be when you attempt to stop using this drug and find it is impossible.
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Synthetic Marijuana Banned in California
February 13, 2014 at 09:14 AM EST
