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"SAN FRANCISCO — Reacting to what it called complaints from law enforcement and a surge in medical emergencies, the Drug Enforcement Administration said on Wednesday that it would ban several chemicals used to make so-called synthetic marijuana products, which resemble herbs or potpourri but mimic the effects of the drug when smoked.
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Kelley Mccall/Associated Press
So-called synthetic marijuana products are sold in smoke shops and online under names like K2.
In a notice published in the Federal Register, the agency said it would use its emergency powers to ban possession and sale of five synthetic cannaboids whose effects mirror that of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which gives marijuana its potency. Those chemicals are used to coat a variety of products which are marketed as incense, but have become popular as smokables for those seeking a legal high.
Under the action, the five cannaboids will be listed as Schedule I substances, the most restrictive category, for at least a year while the government studies whether they should be permanently banned.
The temporary action will take at least 30 days to take effect, meaning the products will not immediately be illegal. But on Wednesday, the acting agency administrator, Michele M. Leonhart, made it clear that she believes they are an imminent public safety threat.
“Makers of these harmful products mislead their customers into thinking that ‘fake pot’ is a harmless alternative to illegal drugs, but that is not the case,” she said in a statement.
The products, which began to appear in the United States in 2008, are sold in smoke shops and online under names like K2, Blue Dragon and Black Mamba Spice, and are marked with warnings saying “not intended for human consumption.” But according to the drug agency, those warnings are being ignored, leading to a variety of bad reactions, including agitation, vomiting, seizures and hallucinations.
Tony Newman, a spokesman for the Drug Policy Alliance, which seeks to liberalize the drug laws, said the ban seemed to be the wrong approach.
“The D.E.A. says that prohibiting synthetic marijuana will ‘control’ it — yet we know from history that prohibition is the complete opposite of drug control,” Mr. Newman said, adding that regulating and setting age limits would be a better approach than “relegating it to the black market.”
Fifteen states have sought to control the THC-like chemicals, the drug agency said. But the products are still easily available; one online retailer on Wednesday was advertising Blue Dragon as “perfect for someone who gets drug tested and doesn’t want to test positive.” And, on Polk Street in San Francisco a packet of three grams of K2 was bought for $25. "
Enlarge This Image
Kelley Mccall/Associated Press
So-called synthetic marijuana products are sold in smoke shops and online under names like K2.
In a notice published in the Federal Register, the agency said it would use its emergency powers to ban possession and sale of five synthetic cannaboids whose effects mirror that of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which gives marijuana its potency. Those chemicals are used to coat a variety of products which are marketed as incense, but have become popular as smokables for those seeking a legal high.
Under the action, the five cannaboids will be listed as Schedule I substances, the most restrictive category, for at least a year while the government studies whether they should be permanently banned.
The temporary action will take at least 30 days to take effect, meaning the products will not immediately be illegal. But on Wednesday, the acting agency administrator, Michele M. Leonhart, made it clear that she believes they are an imminent public safety threat.
“Makers of these harmful products mislead their customers into thinking that ‘fake pot’ is a harmless alternative to illegal drugs, but that is not the case,” she said in a statement.
The products, which began to appear in the United States in 2008, are sold in smoke shops and online under names like K2, Blue Dragon and Black Mamba Spice, and are marked with warnings saying “not intended for human consumption.” But according to the drug agency, those warnings are being ignored, leading to a variety of bad reactions, including agitation, vomiting, seizures and hallucinations.
Tony Newman, a spokesman for the Drug Policy Alliance, which seeks to liberalize the drug laws, said the ban seemed to be the wrong approach.
“The D.E.A. says that prohibiting synthetic marijuana will ‘control’ it — yet we know from history that prohibition is the complete opposite of drug control,” Mr. Newman said, adding that regulating and setting age limits would be a better approach than “relegating it to the black market.”
Fifteen states have sought to control the THC-like chemicals, the drug agency said. But the products are still easily available; one online retailer on Wednesday was advertising Blue Dragon as “perfect for someone who gets drug tested and doesn’t want to test positive.” And, on Polk Street in San Francisco a packet of three grams of K2 was bought for $25. "
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CANNATOPIA
No one should have to feel like they need to smoke fake cannabis to begin with. I relay don't care much about this stuff but Prohibition as always never works.
i guess i better stock up on the chemical in these blends while i can still buy it legally.
already outlawed in most of the counties in my state
D
Darkstarlive
I saw on my local news lastnight that people are smoking Nutmeg.
Is the DEA going to ban Nutmeg now too...
Is the DEA going to ban Nutmeg now too...
BigSwifty
Member
Who cares about K2! Why would anyone smoke this shit? Just get some herb...
^I wouldn't be surprised if the DEA banned nutmeg under the Federal Analogue Act! They can ban ANY substance that is substantially similar to a controlled substance. That's how they pretty much ban all these Research Chemicals that heads like Shulgin discover...
^I wouldn't be surprised if the DEA banned nutmeg under the Federal Analogue Act! They can ban ANY substance that is substantially similar to a controlled substance. That's how they pretty much ban all these Research Chemicals that heads like Shulgin discover...
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InvisibleEmpire
bottom line: we live in a police state and there is not a damn thing you can, or will do about it. obey and accept the tyranny or go to prison, your choice.
1 post away from 420!
1 post away from 420!
good. theres no way that shit can be good for your health....
pretty soon organic foods will be illegal....
ocean_grown
Member
lol, I bought up a ton of that shit when Nokuy made that thread in tokers den about how to blend your own k2.. Worth 25 bucks an eighth? Damn where did I put that shit.. thats more than weed is going for around here!
Greenstar420
Member
I saw this coming a mile away. oh well, I never did this shit and never planned to.
My buddy had been smoking ALOT of this stuff .Cause their was a period of months between my last harvest...I say Ban it!! It causes white men to listen to jazz music,and makes loose women out of housewives...
so its full on throughout the country now huh? When does it take effect? in 30 days?
Its extremely popular here.
It just pisses me off how they can so quickly decide to just shut down things with nobody voting on it. Just another thing illegal. Another thing to build prisons for.
Its extremely popular here.
It just pisses me off how they can so quickly decide to just shut down things with nobody voting on it. Just another thing illegal. Another thing to build prisons for.
heres a long one lol
this is getting fucking ridiculous. we need to get the libertarians elected in 2012 and massively shrink government in America. It's gotten to big to stay organized enough to keep out corruption. it got that way through fear propaganda, and apathy. this lead to sheepish people that feel they are entitled to other people's money. very sad situation. the beauty of america supposed to be that you are driven and you don't want wealth distribution because you would rather work for what you get, and decide what your work is worth. not the government with minimum wage and not some union that stifles development. the individual needs the ability to decide what there good and/or services are worth to them; and the consumer can demand highest quality and excellence for higher prices. just the the herb market works out there in California.... if only it was legal, and even better if it were not taxed to hell when it is legalized. Flat tax for all is fair. 2 page tax code. everyone pays 10 percent, and we tax all purchases and an import tax on foreign good and an export tax on American based companies hiring out of country.
cutting out 15 to 25 percent of our military would be monumental. if we cut out enforcing stupid laws and cut out welfare for people abusing the system there is another huge chunk. most importantly though cut the drug war entirely. also converting to renewable energy with the private sector will pay off heavily in the long run, so once we are back on track that should be done as well.
this is getting fucking ridiculous. we need to get the libertarians elected in 2012 and massively shrink government in America. It's gotten to big to stay organized enough to keep out corruption. it got that way through fear propaganda, and apathy. this lead to sheepish people that feel they are entitled to other people's money. very sad situation. the beauty of america supposed to be that you are driven and you don't want wealth distribution because you would rather work for what you get, and decide what your work is worth. not the government with minimum wage and not some union that stifles development. the individual needs the ability to decide what there good and/or services are worth to them; and the consumer can demand highest quality and excellence for higher prices. just the the herb market works out there in California.... if only it was legal, and even better if it were not taxed to hell when it is legalized. Flat tax for all is fair. 2 page tax code. everyone pays 10 percent, and we tax all purchases and an import tax on foreign good and an export tax on American based companies hiring out of country.
cutting out 15 to 25 percent of our military would be monumental. if we cut out enforcing stupid laws and cut out welfare for people abusing the system there is another huge chunk. most importantly though cut the drug war entirely. also converting to renewable energy with the private sector will pay off heavily in the long run, so once we are back on track that should be done as well.
If you sucked on a bong of the stuff for the next 30 days you'd find the ban was about the only effect!
D
Darkstarlive
Are we a society or just individuals?
The Gov't has its problems but its the corporations that call the shots, Just look at our economy, the stockmarket has gained back all of the losses from 2008 but there is no investment, no loans to small business'. These so called investment banks have 90% of their capital trading in these scam derivatives, basically betting against people/companies hoping they will default on their loans. That's not a healthy robust economy thats a fleecing of America, they get rich while everyone else loses their jobs and goes bankrupt.
SAD
The Gov't has its problems but its the corporations that call the shots, Just look at our economy, the stockmarket has gained back all of the losses from 2008 but there is no investment, no loans to small business'. These so called investment banks have 90% of their capital trading in these scam derivatives, basically betting against people/companies hoping they will default on their loans. That's not a healthy robust economy thats a fleecing of America, they get rich while everyone else loses their jobs and goes bankrupt.
SAD
