Synthetic Marijuana Cases Rise Nationwide

 By: Nicole Griffin
The recent spike in synthetic marijuana is not just a problem in Lincoln, but it's one hospitals are seeing nationwide. The American Association of Poison Control Centers reports 1,900 exposures to synthetic marijuana in 2015. That is four times the amount during the same time last year.
Health officials are warning consumers that synthetic marijuana is not safe to smoke and there can be significant medical consequences.

Synthetic marijuana, also known as k2 or spice, is a plant material coated with THC, the active chemical compound in marijuana. Although synthetic marijuana is different from marijuana and can be dangerous and even deadly, because it is more potent that marijuana.

Here are some of the effects of the drug according to the Poison Control Centers:
-Severe agitation and anxiety.
-Fast, racing heartbeat and higher blood pressure.
-Nausea and vomiting.
-Muscle spasms, seizures, and tremors.
-Intense hallucinations and psychotic episodes.
-Suicidal and other harmful thoughts and/or actions.

In Lincoln, LPD has seen over 30 cases, while LFR has dealt with twice that number in the last two weeks. Overdoses result in vomiting, seizures and bizarre behavior, according to police.
Lincoln Police say, synthetic marijuana is not a 'harmless' substance. The chemicals that are applied or sprayed to the plant material are randomly altered by producers, which make it difficult to predict individual reaction of smoking it.

"There is something that is causing a bad reaction to a lot of community members in the city and that is our concern," says LPD Officer Brian Jackson.
City agencies are currently working together to address the recent spike. LPD seized 1200 packets of synthetic marijuana from two Lincoln smoke shops.