The state House on Thursday unanimously passed and forwarded to the Senate a bill that would ban spice, an herb often smoked as a legal alternative to marijuana.
HB 2167, with a bipartisan list of sponsors, would classify and outlaw 10 chemicals that can be sprayed on the herb as dangerous drugs under state law.
Spice is sold as incense and marked as not for human consumption, but it’s often smoked. Because its strength can vary from brand to brand, lawmakers say spice is more dangerous than marijuana because it produces unpredictable side effects.
“As of right now, this drug is easily accessible and putting many Arizonans at risk, especially our most vulnerable: our children,” Rep. Amanda Reeve, R-Anthem, the bill’s author, said at a news conference. “The impacts and risks associated with spice are gravely serious.”
Studies have shown that spice is popping up in schools around the state, prompting school officials to warn parents, she said.
The measure includes an emergency clause, which requires votes from three-quarters of members in each house, that would make its provisions take effect immediately upon Gov. Jan Brewer’s signature.
In November, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced plans for a temporary ban on five of the chemicals used to create spice. It will last for at least a year while the DEA and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study the chemicals. HB 2167 would ban those five chemicals and an additional five.
Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said distributors are deluding youth by marketing the substance as a safe and legal alternative to marijuana.
“We will aggressively handle those who are continuing to distribute or trying to sell the substance to our youth,” he said. “It’s not legal, it’s not marijuana — it can cause serious health consequences up to and including death.”
The chemical most common in spice is JWH 018, a synthetic cannaboid that mimics the effect of THC, the chemical tetrahydrocannabinol, in marijuana.
Rep. Matt Heinz, D-Tucson, a hospital physician and sponsor of the bill, said he admitted a young man who had smoked spice and had symptoms similar to a stroke or seizure, had blurred vision and couldn’t speak.
But three friends who had smoked about the same amount had no symptoms, Heinz said
“The unpredictability is a very dangerous aspect because, as a medical provider, we cannot predict who would have those kinds of severe, serious reactions,” he said.
In a Feb. 3 story about the Arizona House of Representatives approving a bill to ban chemicals used to manufacture the marijuana alternative known as spice, Cronkite News Service erroneously reported the status of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s plan to temporarily ban several chemicals used in the manufacture of spice. The DEA announced in November that it plans to ban the substances for one year but has yet to implement that ban.
ernie13x posted at 6:56 pm on Thu, Feb 3, 2011.
Wow, they've finally persued something worthwhile for a change. Who knew? Good job, we have to protect our young people. Sometimes from themselves. Maybe next time they'll protect our young people's healthcare. Oust Brewer! Oust Pearce! Let's sign those petitions! Keep hope and all of us alive!
daniel001 posted at 1:40 am on Fri, Feb 4, 2011.
Good, but not really effective... Arizona is promoting pot smoking by its passage of legalizing marajuana in the state... The politicians want your money, regardless that your children will become drug addicts at their greedy expense! BOYCOT ALL ILLEGAL DRUGS AND FORCE THE POLITICIANS TO CHANGE AZ LAW BACK TO ILLEGAL POT!!!
Rich posted at 11:59 am on Fri, Feb 4, 2011.
People are out of work, People are losing their homes and the real estate market is in free fall. Could you (inappropriate terms) get your act together, stop trying the micro manage our lives, stop with the nutball causes and handle the situation please.
Freethinker posted at 10:32 am on Sat, Feb 5, 2011.
Notice the comment from daniel001.
Take particular notice of the immature screaming, and the fact that he is pontificating about marijauna hurting our children's future.
In the same breath where these nuts scream "No illegal drugs!", they go out and buy Ritalin, Prozac, Vicodin...and perhaps some Valium to even things out.
And I'm STILL waiting for one of these loonies to explain why marijuana should be illegal in the first place.
Daniel001 claims to be against greedy politicians...does he even know WHY marijuana was made illegal in 1937? To stop hemp fiber from competing with Nylon in the American market.
EmperorSmith posted at 12:17 pm on Mon, Feb 7, 2011.
I never thought of the real reason why MJ was illegal but that makes perfect since. I bet Daniel001 thinks the earth is 6000 years old also.
Those with closed minds do not open them selves up to creativity. They are just sheep.
anewday23 posted at 12:36 pm on Wed, Mar 30, 2011.
It is absurd that marijuana is still pretty much illegal in this day and age. Now they are chasing down this K2 herbal incense stuff. Where will it end?? It won't. Do you know why? It's a never ending freaking cycle! There are constantly new formulations of K2 incense coming out to get around these ridiculous bans which are trying to get around the ban on marijuana in the first place. Why do we have to be up in each other's business? This is supposed to be the land of the free and it is hardly that! If someone wants to buy k2 they will. After all the effort they have been putting into banning this stuff, http://www.k2-incense.com is still able to offer legal k2 incense products. I told you. Wasted money. Wasted efforts.
hollybug80 posted at 4:18 pm on Tue, Sep 13, 2011.
I know they are trying to close any loopholes that current k2 incense manufacturers are trying to get around but my friends still buy k2 incense from places that still claim to offer legal everywhere k2 herb blends like http://www.buyk2.com As long as marijuana is prohibited there is going to be a niche for marijuana alternatives.