Basic Facts About K2 Spice

What is Spice?

“Spice” is used to describe a diverse family of herbal mixtures marketed under many names, including K2, fake marijuana, Yucatan Fire, Skunk, Moon Rocks.  These products contain dried, shredded plant material and presumably, chemical additives that are responsible for their psychoactive (mind-altering) effects. While Spice products are labeled “not for human consumption” they are marketed to people who are interested in herbal alternatives to marijuana (cannabis). Spice users report experiences similar to those produced by marijuana, (i.e., symptoms that include rapid heart rate, vomiting, agitation, confusion, and hallucinations) and regular users may experience withdrawal and addiction symptoms.

Why is it popular?

Despite the warning, K2 Spice has grown in popularity as an alternative to marijuana because it is easily accessible and untraceable in drug screens within two hours after use. Nationally, 352 cases of illness due to ingesting K2 Spice have been reported to the Poison Control Center, since February of 2010.

Why Should I be Concerned?

Marketing labels often make unverified claims that Spice products contain up to 3.0 grams of a natural psychoactive material taken from a variety of plants. While Spice products do contain dried plant material, chemical analyses of seized spice mixtures have revealed the presence of synthetic (or designer) cannabinoid compounds. Also, these compounds have not been fully characterized for their effects and more importantly, their toxicity, in humans. Because the chemical composition of the various products sold as Spice is unknown, it is likely that some varieties also contain substances with dramatically different effects than those expected by the user. There is also concern about the presence of harmful heavy metal residues in Spice mixtures.

How Does Spice Impact the Body?

Reported side effects include heart palpitations, respiratory issues, panic attacks, hallucinations, delusions, vomiting, increased agitation, and dilated pupils.

Is it Legal?

 In Michigan, Public Act 171 of 2010 amended the Public Health Code to include various synthetic cannabinoids, including JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-015, JWH-200, and JWH-250, in the Code's list of Schedule 1 controlled substances. A Schedule 1 controlled substance is a substance that has high potential for abuse and has no accepted medical use in treatment in the United Stares or lacks accepted safety for use in treatment under medical supervision.  Public Act 169 of 2010 amended the Public Health Code to extend the penalties for the possession and use of marijuana to the possession and use of the synthetic cannabinoids listed in Public Act 171. 

 Under the Public Health Code, a person may not knowingly or intentionally possess or use a controlled substance unless it was obtained directly from, or pursuant to, a valid prescription or order of a practitioner while acting in the course of his or her professional practice. A possession violation involving marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year's imprisonment, a maximum fine of $2,000, or both. A violation involving the use of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days' imprisonment, a maximum fine of $100, or both. Public Act 169 extended those penalties to the possession and use of the synthetic cannabinoids added to Schedule 1 by Public Act 171. Public Acts 169 and 171 both took effect on October 1, 2010. (In addition to including synthetic cannabinoids in Schedule 1, Public Act 171 added other substances to Schedule 1 and Schedule 4, and Public Act 169 prescribed penalties for possession and use of those substances).

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