Smoking Incense for a Marijuana-like high is legal in 49 states, no Federal Ban for now
Posted on 13 April 2010 by The Broadside Editor
Irene Cooper
The Broadside
Pulse, Earthquake, Samurai Spirit, Spice, K2. What sounds like aftershaves marketed to adolescents are actually brand names for a product labeled as incense, recently banned in Missouri and awaiting the passage of a ban by Georgia lawmakers. But what is it?
K2, as it is most popularly known, is an herbal mix sprayed with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), synthetic compounds that mimic the active ingredient in cannabis satia, or marijuana. K2 is generally produced in laboratories in Asia, and has been legal for sale and use in all fifty states until last month, when Missouri put its ban into effect.
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Drug Enforcement Administration lists K2 as a “drug of concern.” If the Georgia House of Representatives follows the Senate in approving the ban, K2 will join heroin and methamphetamine on the Schedule 1 list of Georgia’s controlled substances.
The chemical compound in K2, initially known as JWH-018, was developed by Clemson University organic chemist John W. Huffman. The cannabinoid in the product known as Spice was developed by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals over twenty years ago.
According the the webpage Terra Sigillata on Scienceblogs.com, Huffman regarded the development of the compound as a minor achievment, but isn’t surprised that it has taken a comercial turn. “All it needed was somebody with a reasonable understanding of science to see the papers we had published and think, ‘Aha!’”
The prducts aren’t well known in Central Oregon. A popular novelty store and head shop on highway 97 does not carry K2 or Spice, and the clerk didn’t know anywhere it could be had in Bend. K2 is readily available over the internet, however.
When smoked, it is said to produce a short-term (five to thirty minute) high similar to what one would get from marijuana. The synthetic compound does not show up in standard urine analyses.
The chemical is classified as illegal in several European and Scandinavian countries. While no federal ban exists in the U.S., there is concern over the unregulated nature of K2.
Dawn Dearden, spokesperson for the DEA said, “There is no way… to determine the chemical makeup, synthetic ingredients, or amounts… [or to] determine with any accuracy what the potential harmful effects may be.”
Huffman said producing the synthetic drug “is a two-step process using commercially available chemicals.” The seventy-one year old added, “I think anybody that smokes it is stupid… I have nothing against recreational drugs, but if you don’t know the long-term consequences or toxicity, you’re an idiot to take it.” Huffman knew of no peer-reviewed journal or study that had addressed the subject.
Synthetic marijuana has also raised objections from those who protest the illegality of the real thing. Groups such as the one that posts The NORML Stash blog insist that the legalization of marijuana would prevent potentially harmful synthetics from entering the market.
The Missouri ban on K2 parallels concerns in Ireland over a legal substance marketed as “bath salts” or plant food, but actually being ingested as a party drug Mephendrone, known as “meow-meow” or “MCAT” is smoked, snorted, or swallowed, and is “chemically and pharmacologically similar to amphetamines and cocaine,” according to the Times of India. While mephendrone is illegal in Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands, it is legal in the U.S., available mostly through international internet sites.
It may be that synthetic marijuana has not gained popularity in Central Oregon due to an interest in more natural products, or because there has been less “buzz” on the products west of the Rockies.
Missouri lawmakers reacted to instances of teenagers being hospitalized after using K2, and indeed much of the argument against the sale and possession is K2 centers on children’s health. It’s likely, though, that consenting adults in Central Oregon will have greater access to these products, and in addition to the effects of cannabinoids on the body, there is the issue of combustion products, i.e. tar and carbon monoxide, present whenever any type of plant material is smoked.
Regardless of the level of government intervention, it will remain the responsibility of the individual to assess the risk involved in any conscious-altering substance.
You may contact Irene Cooper at icooper@cocc.edu
Cool stuff, but the posts don’t display properly on my iPad…perhaps you ought to check that out. Thanks, anyway.
I’ll look into that. Thanks for your feedback!
I’ve bookmarked this because I found it interesting. I would be very keen to hear more information on this. Cheers!
Hey. I am an avid buyer and smoker of these herbal blends. While I appreciate the attention this is given, you have incorrectly claimed that K2 is sprayed with THC. The primary reason these herbal blends are being bought is because they contain absolutely no THC, which allows the smoker to pass drug tests which look for THC.
Here is some food for thought:
In Louisiana, legislators have proposed a bill which bans the sale of these herbal blends as well as the sale of JWH-018 and JWH-079. However, there are numerous other similar blends of JWH, such as JWH-200. The producer of JWH can keep staying one step ahead of the law by altering the formula to keep it legal.
In my opinion, these herbal blends are terrible for everyone. The black market operations regarding marijuana have led people such as myself to seek a synthetic alternative that hasn’t been tested by the FDA. We don’t know what the long term effects of smoking JWH are. However, we do know that marijuana, while having some medicinal purposes, really doesn’t hurt the long-term user much as long as it isn’t abused. As of now, the government has banned a plant that has been around for centuries, while drug companies are creating pills for manufactured ailments all to line the pockets of the elite.
Sorry, didn’t mean to go into a rant. Just thought you should know that none of these herbal blends actually contain THC. However, Spice was pulled off the shelves for containing a known synthetic cannibanoid that was causing people to fail drug tests. Again, thanks for bringing attention to this.
The dosing of JWH-018 varies between blends which may explain the wide range of reactions. Well, that and a lot of the counterfeit that is out there.
i’ve been reading up on the ‘fake weed’ spice, and they’re saying that it’s potency being 3-5 times stronger than thc and comparable to LSD. people on blogs that have been around the block and back with drugs have also compared it to acid, lsd, and pcp also claiming NOT to try it take it smoke it burn it or anything bc it was that bad of a trip. before we know it it will be illegal. but when it’s illegal, will it still be bought and sold the way REAL marijuana is still trafficed?
Hey,
I smoked this stuff twice. The reason being is because it contains no thc. I do find this article helpful but ill only smoke it in moderation like I always have.
FUCK the gov people will smoke this or pot, making it illegal will not make a huge inpact it just move kids to smoke pot..
Enormously educational thank you, It looks like your current audience will probably want a good deal more information similar to this maintain the excellent hard work.
Prohibition is unconstitutional cognitive censorship and a huge waste of time and money. It does not work. Live and let live.
i’ve never tried this K2 stuff but i have tried Wicked X, XXX, Black Mamba, and a few other legal blends, and i find it relaxing. my mother in law had a severe stroke 5 years ago and its hard for her to speak clear, full sentences but after she smokes, she can talk for an hour pretty clearly. we both enjoy that it has natural herbs and it gives us a really uplifting and positive high. but i can see where it could be problematic for a lot of people. i think its fine moderation but should be further tested for harmful effects.
Top 5 Reasons NOT to Ban Herbal Incense Products (…OR Top 5 Reasons to Repeal Herbal Incense Bans)
1. Laws Cost Money – It’s amazing how many people fail to realize that EVERY new law requires new tax payer revenue to enforce. Sure, banning will prevent legitimate shops and stores from selling Herbal Incense, but these hard-working individuals are easy to target and harass with enforcement. But what about the criminals who continue to buy and sell Herbal Incense products?
Are you, the taxpayer willing to pay EVEN more of your earned money to hire additional law enforcement personnel and purchase “Incense” detection devices. If the answer is no, then you don’t need Incense products banned.
Banning herbal incense will only create more government jobs (police) and eat up even more taxpayer money by invoking additional ineffective government resources (Google IT, almost half of our Judicial and Prison resources are dedicated to the fallout of “illegal drug” laws). Ask your neighbors and friends, and I bet they are not calling for more police and government intrusion into their lives. Enough is Enough Already!
2. Banning Incense Creates a Black market – Looking for a way to boost crime in your area? Ban something and create a black market!
Banning anything restricts product availability, which artificially drives product prices up. This makes “illegal Drug Dealers” rich. Personally, I would rather see the money go to the local shop owners, who are creating legitimate jobs and paying taxes on earnings.
3. Negative Economic Impacts – Herbal Incense product sales create jobs and significantly stimulate your local economy. Many local stores and shops, including gas stations, tobacco shops, convenience stores, head shops, party stores, salons, tattoo studios, book stores, record shops, resale stores and gift shops report annual average earnings of $150,00 – $200,000 a year on incense products alone.
Many smaller shops report that, without income from incense, they would have been forced to close their doors within the past two years.
4. Prohibition NEVER Works – Those of us that remember history class, may remember a little governmental experiment called “PROHIBITION”. This generally is referred to as the time period between January 16, 1920 and December 5, 1933, where We The People gave the government Constitutional authority to outlaw the sale and possession of alcohol-based beverages.
Prohibition created Liberty-smashing agencies like the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), which lead to agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and so forth (By the way, since the US government doesn’t produce any goods of fair market value, this is the only way that the government can “create jobs”! So when a politician says they promise to create jobs, they really mean to expand the government through police state and unnecessary bureaucracy.) Long story short, PROHIBITION WAS A MAJOR FLOP!
A great man once said: “”You can’t legislate good will – that comes through education.” ~ Malcolm X”. All banning does is make new criminals. Since its inception almost 40 years ago, it’s estimated that through the “War on Drugs” effort, State and Federal Governments have wasted almost 30 Billion dollars (yes BILLION). In the process, we taxpayers pay the government to arrest and prosecute a citizen about every 17 seconds for drug-related charges. And why these gross expenditures? All under the guise to eradicate recreational drug use?
The bottom line is, if someone is using Incense in an unprescribed manner, chances are they will either:
a. Continue using Incense in an unprescribed manner illegally, or
b. Use other controlled substances illegally.
It’s a Lose- Lose – Lose situation any way you look at it.
5. What Happened to the “Land of the Free”? – Every now and then, it’s a good idea to reflect on what America means to you. For most Americans, it means enjoying the right to life, liberty and the responsible pursuit of happiness. There major reason that law makers use to justify this modern day “Witch Hunt”, is NOT because it has been proven that Herbal Incense is toxic, addictive, or harmful in any way when used appropriately, It’s because….. well, some mimic the effects of the “dangerous” controlled substance you may have heard of called marijuana. That’s it!
What’s the message here? “Hey, thanks for obeying the silly laws already in place by seeking an alternative, but, despite the fact we are spending money we don’t have to try and our enforce the existing laws that don’t work, we need to make more costs and criminals at the expense of your liberty”.
Why do we let these things happen? Because of a few isolated incidents involving voluntary substance misuse by those without restraint and personal responsibility?
You know, Fire is a pretty useful, but dangerous Tool that creates emergency room visits and has the capability of devastating lives forever. But used PROPERLY as a TOOL, it has endless benefits, and can even be a life saver. Think About it.
So, do we hold these people accountable for their mistakes and offer them encouragement and support, or should we keep punishing the TOOL that they used via legislative action? And, do you really think more laws are going to save these self-abusive people from themselves? How ridiculous!!!
If you live in a free state that understands the government’s role is not to be your daddy and encourages responsible individual freedoms, good for you.
BUT , if the career politicians in your area want to trample on your rights to pursue happiness to make a name for themselves by Banning Herbal Incense in your area. We urge you, the people to take action immediately.
Tell the Self-serving, Career Politicians to REALLY represent YOU, the people. Tell them that Herbal Incense is no more dangerous than other American enjoyments, like Cigars, Alcohol, Fast Cars, or Fast Food (the Number One Killer of Americans, REALLY),
Tell them that you are tired of lawmakers telling you what to do, where to go and how to spend your money, while they continue driving our local, state and national budgets into the ground with their other dumb ideas.
Join the Herb-olution and Spread The WORD!
Happiness, Prosperity and Liberty to ALL!.
Summit, Ultra, Blonde, Solid Sex, Orisha, Amazonian Shelter, Thai Dream, and Sky are the only K2 products currently on the market.
They are absolutely full of it. They were banning K2 and the like before they actually started research on any possible side effects. Don’t be foolish. They don’t care about the well-being of Americans, otherwise the FDA and Big Pharma wouldn’t be getting away with all the toxins they push on us! Provided there are age restrictions, If someone wants some k2 herb, who are you to tell them that they can’t have it? If someone wants to, they will buy k2 smoke whether it’s legal or not as that is what happens with anything else that is unjustly and ridiculously prohibited. K2 incense will be no different. Plus, the formulas are constantly changing. http://www.k2incense.org Offers several products that are legal all over the world.
I think it absolutely stupid that people have to smoke this stuff but yet we cant smoke marijuana. From all the document that have been made and all the studies done by scientists, that the goverment wouldn’t allow to be published, marijuana is still illegal and honest, hard working people such as myself are going to be incarcerated for a harmless and senseless “crime”. Marijuana has never harmed anyone in the centuries that it has been around, and yet, the goverment is going to over look all the evidence and keep it illegal all because of one man, Harry J. Anslinger, and his opinion and racism againt hispanics, africans, and every other race that isnt caucasian. We’ve had several president that smoked marijuana and yet youth is going to smoke “incense” just to get high. America is going to hell and the goverment is the cause of it.
Nice site design and good information. Thanks, looking forward to your feed updates…
I smoked some herbal blend inscence called Hypnotic. IT was the most crasiest highs ive ever experienced. Fely like my spirit left my body and i keep being convicted of doing wrong for smoking, also it made me think i was going to die or be pushished. i was extremly paranoid.
I smoke spice almost daily. I love it.
This is just silly. K2 is just a way for large companies to make a profit off of people desperate to smoke weed. Who knows what the He*l is in there. As for marijuana grown by local people and inspected and tested by professional medical staff, its illegal unless you have a medical need for it. Why not let it be legal for recreational use? It has far too many benefits and cures, and big-pharmo will take a loss in the market. Simple as that. Also the technology known about hemp will drastically change the market for many other large companies as well.