Community Corner

Doctor: Synthetic Marijuana 'Potent, Dangerous Stuff'

In the wake of raids on a dozen local businesses selling it, Dr. Neil Capretto of Gateway Rehabilitation said that he's treated patients from Washington County—but that the problem is 'all over.'

Dr. Neil Capretto said one patient who came into Gateway Rehabilitation called the synthetic pot he was smoking “like marijuana on steroids.”

—often packaged as incense and labeled “not fit for human consumption”—Capretto, Gateway’s medical director, said the use of such “designer drugs” is on the rise.

It’s not just in Washington County, either—although Capretto said he’s treated plenty of patients from the area.

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“It’s everywhere,” the doctor said. “It’s through most of the country now.”

And it’s getting worse, he said.

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Right now, he said there are 140 different versions of synthetic marijuana, and each has its own “tweaked” version of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol—or THC—the active ingredient in the drug.

The concept is based on research done in the 1990s by a scientist who was working to create a synthetic form of the drug for legitimate reasons, trying to mimic the relaxation and sedation effects of marijuana.

But Capretto said the doctor later abandoned the research because the synthetic version was similar “but much, much more potent.”

How much more?

“It was two to 10 times more potent,” Capretto said, adding that the potency causes much more extreme effects—including hallucinations and loss of motor-coordination skills.

Generally smoked, the products sold and seized at local shops come mostly from China, where makers spray the drug on plant material, and market it as incense or potpourri.

“It’s like, ‘Wink, wink,' but everyone knows,” Capretto said. “This is some very potent, dangerous stuff.”

And while the drugs have made their way into many circles, the doctor said its use is most common in two groups.

The first group includes people between the ages of 18 and 30.

The other group? People in the legal system or a work environment that requires regular drug testing.

Capretto said that while technology is advancing, it’s difficult to screen for the drug because its makeup is slightly different from traditional THC.

“So you pass your drug test,” Capretto said.

He asked parents and members of the community to be vigilant—and not assume that the name “synthetic marijuana” or the fact it can be found in convenience stores and gas stations are signs it is safe to consume.

And he said he thinks the stores—which he said have made as much as $100,000 a year selling the synthetic marijuana also known as K2 or K3—should be held accountable.

“We have to hold their feet to the fire,” Capretto said.

 

Efforts to Eliminate Synthetic Marijuana and Other Drugs

In April, state police raided two stores in Ambridge accused of selling synthetic marijuana after undercover agents went into the store and were able to buy what was confirmed through testing to be synthetic marijuana, according to a police report. 

Raids were conducted at Less Stop-N-Shop at 517 Merchant St. and Moh's Market at 553 Duss Ave.

The sale and possession of synthetic marijuana, also known as "Spice" or "K2," has been illegal in the state since last August. The drug has been known to cause hallucinations, seizures and other dangerous effects.

Ambridge Police said officials in the Ambridge Area School District became aware of the impact of synthetic drug use in school because students taking them were suffering seizures.

Members of the Washington County District Attorney's Drug Task Force and Pennsylvania State Police executed a dozen search warrants Wednesday morning on local businesses as efforts continue to eliminate synthetic marijuana products and other drugs from the community.

One of them was at the .

The search warrants were granted following controlled buys from various retail locations in recent months by state police troopers and undercover detectives from the task force.

Agents have seen a rise in the use of synthetic marijuana, K2 and bath salts, as will as the undesirable side effects that accompany them, Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone said in a release Wednesday.

Users of certain synthetic marijuana products have reported instances of disorientation, respiratory injuries, agitation, paranoia, rapid heartbeat, vomiting and even erratic or criminal behaviors.

“Today’s work is a continuation of our mission to protect young adults and children from dangerous drugs in our community," Vittone said. "These products are of unknown origin and are imported into this country. They present a serious recognized health risk.” 

He went on to stress that part of the danger of these “designer drugs” is that they have unidentified ingredients in their chemical formulations with proven adverse health effects.

“There are no standards in place to ensure safety in these products,” he said. “I compliment the hard work of the members of the Pennsylvania State Police and the Drug Task Force in reducing this threat by enforcing the ban placed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency on these substances.”

He said "diligent police work" enabled officers to trace products sold in Washington County to their origin in mainland China. The investigation further led to the identification of many individuals in different states involved in the manufacture and sale of the drugs. 

 

This story originally appeared on Canon-McMillan Patch.



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