ELIZABETHTOWN — By ALVIN REINER
Some here are mobilizing to end the sale and misuse of synthetic marijuana in Essex County.
Collectively known as "spice," it is sold under many names, among them K2.
"The use is far greater than we know," said Arin Burdo, director of the Elizabethtown Social Center and a mother of three.
"Since I work with teens, I hear from them and notice things such as K2 wrappers on the ground in the community. My father has found wrappers, and the ends of homemade cigarettes that appear to have been smoked with the stuff on the Blueberry Trail System (in Elizabethtown).
The National Institute on Drug Abuse says that some people who have used the substances and sought medical help have reported symptoms including rapid heart rate, vomiting, agitation, confusion and hallucinations.
Burdo has made an effort to inform parents about K2 and similar products.
And an informational meeting on K2 and similar substances is set for 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Essex County Supervisors conference room in Elizabethtown, open to all.
The National Institute says spice is mostly abused by smoking but sometimes it is blended with marijuana or made into an herbal infusion to drink.
FACEBOOK PAGE
"Parents have called me and thanked me, as they didn't know about this problem," Burdo said. "All of a sudden, kids have asked me questions about it at the Social Center.
"I think kids are using it not because it's risky behavior, but because they think that, since it is legal, it is safe."
Burdo started a Facebook page entitled "Stop K2 in Essex County" that she feels is "a good tool to get everyone on the same page." On the page is a letter asking Assemblywoman Theresa Sayward to support a bill banning K2.
"When I went to the Lewis Truck Stop, which sells K2, to speak to the owners, I was told K2 was legal, and it is misused, but they would not stop selling it," Burdo says in the letter.
"It's legal to sell," said proprietor Suman Bisht on Monday, "and it's not for human consumption.
"It's just for incense," she said.
"People have to check the instructions and not misuse it. If I stop selling it here, they will only go to Plattsburgh."
ID REQUIRED
The Truck Stop does require patrons to show identification to prove they are at least 18, for those who are younger can't legally buy it, Bisht said.
And other places carry the product, too.
Marla Hemingway, owner of the shops Fantasy and This and That in Plattsburgh, said they sell "herbal incense or herbal potpourri, not synthetic marijuana.
"We are very strict about who we sell it to. Everyone must show ID to prove they are over the age of 18, and we do not sell the product to be consumed."
She said she has noticed a decline in its popularity among her customers, but couldn't speculate why.
'VERY DANGEROUS'
Another concerned parent from Lewis is Moriah High School science teacher Steve Schaefer.
"A few of my students had a discussion in class one day," he said. "They felt kids that were using K2 were 'crazy' because they didn't know what the chemicals could do.
"That makes me think there is a problem. I'd like to see them get the stuff off the shelves. I'd hate to see kids get killed."
The fact that the substance is marketed as a kind of potpourri, Schaefer added, "makes it even more dangerous. A pharmaceutical drug needs to be tested to see how it reacts with other drugs when taken as directed.
"The chemicals released when kids smoke this stuff have not been tested because it is not the intended use. The interactions could be very dangerous when combined with other substances."
ONLINE AVAILABILITY
Many spice mixtures are sold online at sites such as K2HerbStore.com.
Available there, the site says, is "100% legal everywhere K2 herb with new formula and factory-sealed packaging that is specifically designed to help you achieve the well-being and health that you seek. The K2 herb blends are not only aromatic, but also aid in relaxation, clear thinking, eating habits and sleeping."
As do other sellers, it includes the caveat: "Note: (K2 Herb Incense Is Not For Human Consumption and Should Not Be Misused!)."
Names for the products include Armageddon, Black Mamba, Cloud 9, Devil's Breath, Mad Hatter and Mr. Nice Guy.
Prices at the online store range from $29.99 to $39.99 for 3-gram packets (that amount is about the equivalent of three small paper clips).
ILLEGAL SOME PLACES
The National Institute on Drug Abuse says spice "contains dried, shredded plant material and, presumably, chemical additives that are responsible for their mind-altering effects."
Most countries in Europe have made it illegal, the National Institute website says.
"Easy access has likely contributed to spice's popularity," the website says. "While spice products are labeled 'not for human consumption,' they are marketed to people who are interested in herbal alternatives to marijuana."
Tests have shown spice mixtures contain synthetic versions of cannabinoids — the active compound in marijuana, the National Institute says.
A large concern is that the synthetic form can have "a much more powerful and unpredictable effect" on the users.
And, it says, " ... regular users may experience withdrawal and addiction symptoms."
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has banned five synthetic cannabinoids, as "the substance is considered to have a high potential for abuse and no known medical benefits; and as such, it is illegal to possess or sell products that contain the substance."
A number of states have also instituted bans on spice and spice-like products and/or synthetic cannabinoid-containing products, and many others are considering legislation forbidding the sale or possession of spice.
Learn more at www.drugabuse.gov; www.k2drugfacts.com; www.hdap.org/spice.html.
— Contributing Writer Miranda Orso contributed to this report
