Flanagan Wants to Ban Synthetic Marijuana

Senator John Flanagan (2nd Senate District) recently introduced legislation to ban the sale of synthetic marijuana products that are being smoked by teenagers as an alternative to marijuana, according to a statement from his office.  

The substance is legally available under a variety of names like K2, Spike 99 and Spice at stores throughout New York, including on Long Island.

"This legal substitute is as powerful as real marijuana but it is completely unregulated in our state," he said in a statement. "That means that a 12-year-old could walk into a store today and purchase this product to get high legally which is outrageous.  While the danger in using this drug is clear, even clearer is the fact that its availability sends the wrong message to the very kids we are trying to help stay away from drugs and it must be stopped."

This synthetic is composed of a mix of herbs and spices that are laced with a powerful psychotropic drug or synthetic cannabinoids that mimic the effect of getting high on marijuana, Flanagan's office said.

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration has listed the chemicals on its list of Drugs and Chemicals of Concern.