On Monday February 6th, police and medical crews responded to as many as seven incidents where officials believe people overdosed on synthetic marijuana. This is the second time in as many weeks that crews provided medical attention to numerous people who appeared to have been given a very potent, and dangerous batch of the illegal substance.
Synthetic marijuana has many street names, including K-2. The chemicals used in K-2 attach to the same receptors in the brain as THC. It causes the same reaction in the brain and causes a “high†in the user. While the exact chemicals and the amount used in the production of K-2 will vary from one batch to the next, it has been estimated K-2 can be up to 100 times more potent than the THC found in cannabis.
Unlike THC, the chemicals in K-2 also attach to other receptors in the brain. When this happens, the user experiences reactions not associated with THC. There are many documented side effects to K-2. They include:
•psychotic episodes
•paranoia, increased anxiety and hallucinations – typically much more severe than after smoking marijuana
•increased heart rate
•agitation
•vomiting
•seizures
•uncontrollable body movements
These side effects can cause medical distress for the user. People experiencing these side effects behave in a manner that often leads to interaction with a police officer. Due to their inability to make rational decisions, it can be difficult for police or medical crews to help people who experiencing a K-2 overdose.
Police are investigating these cases to determine where these batches of K-2 were distributed. Anyone with information on this investigation is asked to call the Joint Narcotics Task Force at 1-812-436-7917 or WeTip at 1-800-78-CRIME.
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