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Parents need to
know about fake weed
Slideshow K2 Summit package, contains
herbs and spices sprayed with synthetic compound chemically similar to THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. (AP)
Related Links WEST PALM
BEACH, Fla. - It lights up just like marijuana.
"It's going to start smelling really bad in here," said
one user of the drug.
It'll even get you high.
But this herbal mixture, which some call fake pot, is
perfectly legal.
"I could smoke this stuff in front of a cop and they might have something to say about it,
but there is nothing they can technically do about it," said a man addicted to it, who asked to remain anonymous.
The Contact Five Investigators went undercover, in and out of local smoke shops, and not only did we find this
burgeoning new drug, we're buying it. No ID check, no questions asked.
"It's bad stuff?" substance abuse interventionist Phil Bulone was asked. "Very bad, very bad and parents need to start learning about
it," he replied. "You can actually have a heart attack or a seizure."
Bulone was a narcotics cop
in New York City for 15 years. He says the hot new drug of choice is taking a toll on users across South Florida. Sometimes
called legal pot, spice or genie, it's known generically as K2.
A scientist in a lab apparently created
K2 from a synthetic form of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. He did it for research purposes. His recipe
leaked to the streets and is now being sprayed on potpourri and incense.
"It's sold in little bags, it's
$20-$30 a gram for it," said the K2 addict. He said while it's commonly called fake pot, the effects are very real.
"Munchies, light headedness, mild hallucinations, red eyes," he said.
"It raises the blood
pressure and makes you very paranoid, causes damage to the lungs," said Bulone. "So I believe this is a drug that's
really going to be dangerous."
Bulone works at the Drug Abuse Treatment Association, counseling teens at
the Martin, St. Lucie and Palm Beach County juvenile detention centers. "I asked them, I said 'I'm going
to be interviewed by Channel 5 and I'd like to know if any of you have tried it.' After a moment or two several of them raised
their hands. When I asked, 'Why are you using it?' the big factor is that's it's not detectable in a urine test."
The Contact Five Investigators set out to see how easy it is to buy K2. Undercover, inside a local smoke shop, the
clerk pointed out their most popular selling version of the drug. It's called snafu. We paid $20 and walked out with our stash.
No questions asked.
At the next shop, a similar story. The brand of K2 sold there is called Black Magic Smoke.
It comes in several flavors. Despite the no smoking reference on the packaging, the goodies were bagged, our cash accepted.
Not even an ID check.
The Contact Five Investigators opened both packages, and just as the clerks promised, they
were an herbal mixture that looks just like the K2 drug we've been warned about.
The Contact Five investigators
also searched online and found this: k2cafe.org.
With the click of a mouse, the Contact Five Investigators bought
the drug online, only had to sign a waiver pledging we were over 18, and would not be using it for human consumption.
"If I'm a parent and I go into my kids room and I find what I think looks like incense or potpourri, I need
to be asking some questions?" the Contact Five Investigators asked Bulone.
"That's correct,"
he said. "If it appears to be incense or smells real sweet like crushed flowers, this could be an indication that it's
K2." |
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