Smoking Spice: Legal + Lethal

Smokin Spice: Legal + Lethal

-KrisTina Antosik


There’s been a new trend among this generation’s recreational habits. The 60s had acid, the 70’s had pot, and the 90’s were primarily soaked in alcohol. This generation is trying to quit smoking tobacco, continue drinking, and also continue to apparently get high without getting in the way of the law.

People have managed to find a legal weed, which is scented like potpourri and is sold like incense, according to USA Today. This new phenomenon is known as “potpourri” and is technically called “K2”. It is a packet of herbs glazed with a synthetic chemical that mimics a marijuana high if smoked. K2 is also known as “Spice.” You know it’s bad when kids are turning to the spice rack to get high.



USA Today also reported that “The Sacred Journey,” which is a medicinal herb store located in Lawrence, Kan., started selling K2 in August. The store reportedly sold it as part of a collection of incense. The owner, Natalie McAnulia, says that her sales have skyrocketed from $1,000 a day to $10,000 a day!!!

However, before people start thinking that smoking spice is a simmering slice of fun, think again. Fox News reported that on August 4, of this year, a mother of two, had died from smoking what is known as K2. The 28-year-old
Lilly Helsley, 28, of Middletown, Ind. died suddenly after she smoked K2 or Spice.




According to Fox investigations, eight emergency room visits have been made after the patients had smoked spice, and there have been two other deaths related to K2 in Indiana, alone. Since the Food and Drug Administration is not regulating this potpourri, it has been responsible for a growing number of hospital visits.

Doug Hogan, a 16-year old in Indiana, says the drug is not hard to find and is sold in tobacco stores. “It's pretty much exactly like marijuana. It can be sold to anybody at any price at any time," says Doug. The 16-year old stated K2 can also be found in head shops and is sold on the streets.


The Deseret News of Logon, Utah, explains how the legal/lethal drug originated. K2, which is also known as “Black Mamba,” and comes from the plant Damiana. Damiana. The plant is then treated with the chemical “JWH-18,” which is melted with acetone, and sprayed on the plant to dry. JWH-18 is what gets people high. There have been eight reported incidents of hospitalization treatment in Utah, alone.



“The chemical has addictive properties, can cause panic attacks and if overdosed it can collapse your respiratory system. Apparently it has killed rats in the laboratory, ” According to the Deseret News.
By attempting to follow the law, people are turning to what is innocently sold as incense, yet imitates the direct effects of marijuana, an illegal drug.

Thus by people trying to follow the law, hence avoiding what it illegal, they are experiencing dire consequences. However marijuana never had this amount of hospitalizations on record, and people are dying from using Spice. This will bring a lot of events up for debate such as the possibility that legalizing marijuana may benefit the population, rather than people turning to this legal, yet lethal drug.



Expand Your Knowledge:

New trend. Smoking potpourri

Spice & Death

http://www.deseretnews.com/user/comments/700016635/6-treated-after-smoking-spice.html
http://www.azfamily.com/home/Surprise-students-smoke-spice-prompt-911-calls-after-becoming-sick-93733229.html