Synthetic marijuana

Counterterrorism chemical labs test for 'spice'

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- When Jeffery H. Moran goes to work each day, he swipes his security badge, passes into an airtight chamber, opens a bombproof door and enters a lab full of deadly toxins.

As chief of the counterterrorism laboratory at the Arkansas Department of Health -- one of 62 such federally funded labs in the country -- he heads two dozen chemists who are on constant alert for the release of pestilence or poisons in the United States.

Armed with $2 million worth of new equipment, Moran concocts gruesome tests to keep his team sharp. He has laced samples of baby formula with lethal ricin. Poured rat poison into water bottles. Tainted blood with cyanide gas.

A poster warning of the effects of the drug known as 'spice' hangs on a wall at the Naval Hospital in San Diego. The U.S. Navy has kicked out a record number of sailors and Marines this year for smoking synthetic marijuana and is seeing a dramatic jump in emergency room visits of its users, including some who babbled or hallucinated for eight days. (GREGORY BULL/The Associated Press)

'Spice' becoming a major problem for US military

SAN DIEGO — U.S. troops are increasingly using an easy-to-get herbal mix called “spice,” which mimics a marijuana high, is hard to detect and can bring on hallucinations that last for days.

More from out of state selling illegal drugs in Utah

Local law enforcement agencies saw a disturbing trend in 2011 of out-of-state crews coming into the area to sell illegal drugs, everything from marijuana and methamphetamine to illegal prescriptions, cocaine and heroin.

"This is just following a national trend that has hit here," said Lt. Darin Parke with the Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force.

Police: Driver busted in Kaysville with spice in lap

KAYSVILLE -- With spice product apparently spilled in his lap when stopped by police for a separate offense, a Kaysville man was arrested Saturday and booked into the Davis County Jail.

Teen heart attacks blamed on smoking spice

Three teenagers in Texas appear to have had heart attacks caused by smoking synthetic marijuana, doctors reported this week.

While smoking marijuana is known to affect the heart, such as by increasing the heart rate, synthetic pot -- known as K2 or Spice -- may represent an additional risk. These drugs contain synthetic cannabinoids and have become popular among illicit drug users because they do not show up on toxicology screens.

Advertisement
  +

Recent Comments

Latest Blogs

Blogging the Rambler
Would a real fiscal conservative have bought that...
By: Charles Trentelman

Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 11:54am

The Political Surf
Catholic dioceses, colleges will likely beat Obamacare...
By: Doug Gibson

Friday, May 25, 2012 - 2:47pm

Me, myself... as mommy
Is addiction to Adderall really more appealing than...
By: MeganSanders

Tuesday, May 8, 2012 - 12:26am

Why Are You Crying?
Pakistani justice salutes bin Laden
By: Mark Shenefelt

Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 11:43am

Standard-Examiner Sports Blogs
Tyrone Corbin just loves watching basketball, would...
By: Jim Burton

Tuesday, May 8, 2012 - 4:20pm

Latest Tweets