Synthetic Marijuana banned in NY

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDApr 1 2012

Synthetic marijuana, which was sold openly in shops, is now banned across New York after being linked to serious health risks.

Brands like “Mr. Nice Guy”, “Smiley Dog”, “K2”, “Spice”, “Galaxy Gold” and other brands of fake pot sold across the counter in convenience stores and tobacco shops face the ban. The ban was issued by New York State Health Commissioner Nirav Shah and his New York City equivalent with immediate effect.

Synthetic marijuana is a plant material coated with chemicals imitating THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. The state order said the product had been linked to “severe adverse reactions, including death and acute renal failure,” and commonly caused increased heart rates, paranoia, nausea, confusion, seizures and loss of consciousness. “The commissioner's order calls for sales and distribution of these products to cease immediately,” Shah's office said in a statement. The State Department of Health announced the ban at the request of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and has started enforcing the order.

“The drugs that are sold as 'synthetic marijuana' are new and poorly understood, but reports from poison control centers show that they are toxic and can be very dangerous,” New York City health chief Thomas Farley said. “Because they are sold in stores, people may believe they are safe, and use of these drugs is increasing rapidly in New York City. With this order we are getting them off store shelves and telling everyone in New York City to never use them,” he said.

The city health department said it expects it will mail the order to about 10,000 retailers. It called on New Yorkers to report non-compliance. Violators can face civil penalties. “Synthetic cannabinoids are not marijuana,” Robert Hoffman, head of the New York City Poison Control Center, said. “They are unique drugs made in a lab that have one effect in common with marijuana but potentially many other different effects. They are sold as herbal products, giving users a perception of safety, but in fact they are toxic drugs sprayed on plant leaves,” he said.

Essex County Public Health Director Linda Beers said she's very pleased the state took that step. “We're very, very excited. The work and the campaigning against this have been a great collaboration. We look forward to ridding the county of synthetic marijuana.” State health officials have started checking for compliance with the order, Beers said, using a list supplied by her department. “Our office will work with the New York State (Department of Health) District Office based in Saranac Lake, the lead in this situation. We have notified Essex County school districts, medical providers, the District Attorney's Office, the (county) director of Community Resources, town supervisors and the local media.”

The synthetic drug remains legal in some states. However, the Drug Enforcement Administration in February extended a year-old order banning some of the chemicals used to make the so-called “fake pot.” The chemicals were placed in the most restrictive category as “substances with a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States and a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug under medical supervision,” the DEA said.