K2 AIN’T JUST A MOUNTAIN IN THE HIMALAYAS

As the two examples below illustrate, the media seem to be bending themselves out of shape about a product called K2 that claims to be synthetic marijuana. It would be nice to think that something might be synthesized or discovered that was quite as good as the accepted recreational drug but totally legal. In my depressingly long life I’ve I heard tell about – and even sampled – all manner of legal and/or herbal highs from morning glory seeds to khat (and don’t even talk about smoking bananas) and none of them have really cut it and usually did little more than make me feel kind of shaky. If I get some K2 and try it, I’ll report back. (Or somebody could even send me some.) Let’s not forget though, that, back in the 1980s, Ed Meese, Ronald Reagan’s psychotic Attorney General, established the right of the US Justice Department to ban any drug it didn’t like.

"(WECT) - A drug called K2 is starting to make waves in Kansas, and it's merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to so-called "legal drugs." It looks and works a lot like marijuana, but it's legal. The synthetic substance has just started showing up around the Kansas City area. "According to about 10 to 15 interviews I've done, it's supposed to be more potent than most versions of marijuana," said Johnson County Sheriff Deputy Chris Farkes. One store said they've had many customers asking for K-2, but don't have it yet. Instead, they offered a number of other legal alternatives. A pricey plethora of pills and extracts that promised everything from body tingles and euphoric rushes to relaxation, pain relief, and mood elevation.
Dr. David Eichhorn, the chair of Wichita State's chemistry department, agreed to analyze the samples. He said it would take weeks to positively identify everything in the drugs, but his preliminary findings were eye opening. "One of the ingredients in there is one that would potentially get across the blood brain barrier and the reality is if you do play around these types of compounds you run the risk of seriously upsetting the balance in the brain," said Dr. Eichhorn. K2 was created in a chemistry lab, and since it's synthetic it's not covered by law - although police who have come into contact with it, think it should be."

"ScienceDaily (Mar. 3, 2010) — In the last month, Anthony Scalzo, M.D., professor of toxicology at Saint Louis University, has seen nearly 30 cases involving teenagers who were experiencing hallucinations, severe agitation, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, vomiting and, in some cases, tremors and seizures. All of these teens had smoked a dangerous, yet legal substance known as K2 or "fake weed." According to Scalzo, K2, an unregulated mixture of dried herbs, is growing in popularity because it is legal, purported to give a high similar to marijuana and believed to be natural and therefore safe. "K2 may be a mixture of herbal and spice plant products, but it is sprayed with a potent psychotropic drug and likely contaminated with an unknown toxic substance that is causing many adverse effects. These toxic chemicals are neither natural nor safe," said Scalzo, who also directs the Missouri Regional Poison Control Center at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center. What makes K2 so dangerous? Further testing is needed, but Scalzo says the symptoms, such as fast heart beat, dangerously elevated blood pressure, pale skin and vomiting suggest that K2 is affecting the cardiovascular system of users. It also is believed to affect the central nervous system, causing severe, potentially life-threatening hallucinations and, in some cases, seizures. While JWH 018, a synthetic man-made drug, similar to cannabis, may be responsible for the hallucinations, Scalzo suspects that there is another unknown toxic chemical being sprayed on K2. K2, also known as "spice," has been sold since 2006 as incense or potpourri. It sells for approximately $30 to $40 per three gram bag, which is comparable in cost to marijuana, and is available over the Internet. K2 use is not limited to the Midwest; reports of its use are cropping up all over the country. I think K2 is likely a bigger problem than we're aware of at this time," Scalzo said. Legislators in Missouri currently are considering a proposed ban of K2, which Scalzo supports. In the meantime, he says that parents should be on the lookout for warning signs such as agitation, pale appearance, anxiety or confusion due to hallucinations. "Look for dried herb residues lying around your kids' room. Chances are they are not using potpourri to make their rooms smell better or oregano to put on their pizza." 

Click here for Afroman

The secret word Hunh?