Since the early 2000s, people have been smoking synthetic marijuana in hopes of getting a high similar to that of marijuana. Synthetic marijuana usually consists of a plant material coated with lab-created chemical compounds similar to THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. As a result of being marketed as “100% organic herbs,” synthetic marijuana is often believed to be “safer” than marijuana and, thus, has grown in popularity.
Synthetic marijuana, commonly called “K2” and “Spice,” was sold over the counter as a legal alternative to marijuana until 2011 when both California and the federal government criminalized many of the compounds found in synthetic marijuana including 1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-018), 1-butyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-073), 1-U2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl]-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-200), 5-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)-2-U(1R,3S)-3-hydroxycyclohexyl]-phenol(CP-47,497), and 5-(1,1-dimethyloctyl)-2-U(1R,3S)-3-hydroxycyclohexyl]-phenol(cannabicyclohexanol; CP-47, 497 C8 homologue). The synthetic compounds are often mixed with plants thought to have medicinal properties such as beach bean (canavalia maritima), blue Egyptian water lily (nymphaea caerulea), dwarf skullcap (scutellaria nana), Indian warrior (pedicularis densiflora), Lion’s tail (leonotis leonurus), Indian lotus (nelumbo nucifera) and honeyweed (leonurus sibiricus).
Yeah, I don’t know what any of that means either. What I can tell you is that, even though these synthetic cannabinoids are intended to have effects similar to marijuana, they have been known to cause loss of consciousness, extreme confusion, violent outbursts, paranoia, and hallucinations. The unexpected side effects of synthetic marijuana have often led to hospitalization. In 2011, poison control centers reported nearly 7,000 calls about K2 use. This was nearly double that in 2010.
Although not a lot is known about the exact effects of synthetic marijuana use, one thing is certain: smoking synthetic marijuana and getting behind the wheel can lead to a DUI charges.
Remember all prosecutors have to do is prove that you were under the influence while driving. This can certainly happen if you experience a high similar to that of marijuana or any of the other more serious side effects mentioned above.
On April 3, 2013, a Montana man was arrested after driving high on Spice. Witnesses reported that Omar Rodriguez-Martinez was driving extremely slow causing traffic behind him to slam on their brakes. He then drifted into oncoming traffic, nearly causing a head on collision before pulling off to the side of the road. When officers asked if Rodriguez-Martinez spoke English, he responded that he did not…in English.
Also in early April, Lucherica Dubose, of Kentucky was arrested after she crashed her vehicle while high on Spice. Dubose had two nine year old children as passengers at the time and, in addition to DUI charges, also faces two counts of wanton endangerment. According to Dubose, the synthetic marijuana “messed her up” and she’s “never smoking that again.”
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