Marijuana: The word and plant have been used amongst high schoolers for decades and are, in some cases, some of the hotter points of conversation.
Synthetic marijuana: This man-made drug is new to our generation. We know little about it, and it remains a mystery even amongst its users.
Use of synthetic marijuana, frequently known as K2, is on the rise. It has been used as a back-up for the real thing or sometimes when a user has been on probation or in drug rehabilitation. In some cases the user is just looking for a change of pace in their high.
“I can’t smoke pot,” Ryan,* a K2 user and Marshall senior said. “I’m on legal probation and in drug classes like ASAP and drug therapy.”
When given the option between K2 and the real thing, users have reported that the choice is almost never K2. Unlike real marijuana, synthetic marijuana rarely lasts over an hour but reportedly tends to give a more intense experience.
In addition to the high, marijuana causes increased heart rate, cognitive impairment and other physical health risks, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Students are often educated about these risks from a young age.
Provided the user is not getting a “laced” product, the dangers can be known to some extent.
But therein lies one of the biggest problems with K2. The substance has other chemicals injected into it which substance abuse counselor Patrick Lawton said change as the laws change.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a chemical common in marijuana. The higher the THC content, the more intense the high. K2 does not have THC.
Instead, K2 uses chemicals such as JWH-018, the likes of which have been banned by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The issue with the substitute chemicals is that producers are able to put in whatever will get consumers high.
According to Lawton, when one chemical is banned, such as JWH-018 along with four others, the producers will put different chemicals into the product to keep sales going and customers buying.
Consequently, the chemicals being consumed and the expected side effects change from product to product over time.
When asked about any bad experiences with K2, Ryan said, “I haven’t overdosed or had a bad trip, but I’ve had nausea and chest pains.” The effects kept the senior out of school for several days due to extensive throat and chest pains.
“I’ve never had a bad experience,” said Joe,* another Marshall senior and K2 user, “but it’s never been as good as the real thing and I know it has a lot more negative side effects.”
Ryan was not in support of synthetic marijuana being legal. He only smoked K2 on occasion because he was chasing the same high that he got from marijuana.
“The synthetic isn’t as good as the real thing and it’s just not worth it,” he said, alluding to the unknown risks associated with the high.