The Las Cruces Police Department wants the public to be aware of the dangers of synthetic marijuana – commonly referred to as spice or “K2” – which is the hallucinogenic drug that’s gaining in popularity amongst vapor inhalers, difficult to identify and illegal in New Mexico.
Most importantly, the use of spice is highly addictive and typically much stronger than marijuana. The use of spice often results in violent tendencies.
Its potency and addictiveness is what make spice much more dangerous than the natural product.
Package marketing is deceitfully designed to appear to a younger audience and often includes the wording “Not for Human Consumption” in an attempt to thwart law enforcement and legally protect the manufacturer. It’s sold in convenience stores and smoke shops for alternative uses – such as herbal incense or potpourri – which makes it difficult to track its actual use.
Stores that offer products used as spice typically sell to anyone of any age. That means teenagers and young children could be purchasing spice and openly deceiving parents of their true intent.
The potency and addictiveness of spice is what makes it more dangerous than the natural product. Users typically experience:
- Elevated mood.
- Overly relaxed.
- Altered perception or confusion.
- Hallucinations, delusional or disordered thinking detached from reality.
- Paranoia – extreme or unreasonable distrust of others.
The sale, possession and use of synthetic marijuana is illegal, and can be prosecuted under state law or Las Cruces Municipal Ordinance. Nearly 60 percent of 2014-2015 incidents investigated by the Las Cruces Police Department under the City ordinance – which also covers other illegal inhalants – involved the sale, possession or use of spice.
The Las Cruces Police Department encourages parents and caregivers to talk with their children and discuss the dangers of spice and other illegal narcotics. Anyone with information on illegal drug use, or the sale or possession of spice, is asked to call police at (575) 526-0795.
Information from Las Cruces Police