REGIONAL CRIME LAB TESTING FOR SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA

HUNTSVILLE, Texas, April 22 -- Sam Houston State University issued the following news release:

The possession of or sale of synthetic marijuana substances became illegal in the State of Texas at midnight on April 22, and Sam Houston State University's Regional Crime Lab has the capacity to help with the enforcement of this law.

The Regional Crime Lab in The Woodlands has developed tests to detect the illegal substances and has been routinely analyzing for the substances since January. The accredited, independent crime lab provides fee-based services for controlled substances and toxicology in criminal and civil cases, as well as death investigations.

Products like K2 or Spice, which are marketed as herbal incense, contain substances that produce psychoactive effects similar to those from smoking marijuana. These marijuana-like substances are readily available through smoke shops, gas stations, and the Internet.

The U.

S. Drug Enforcement Administration used its emergency scheduling authority to temporarily ban synthetic marijuana or similar "fake pot" products that mimic the effects of marijuana. The DEA action on March 2 made it illegal to manufacture, sell or possess these products for at least one year.

The state has placed five synthetic cannabinoid substances in Schedule I of the Texas Schedules of Controlled Substances, making it illegal to manufacture, distribute, possess and sell the substances.

Penalties for the manufacture, sale, or possession with intent to deliver synthetic marijuana like K2 or Spice are Class A misdemeanors. Possession of the banned substances is a Class B misdemeanor.

Schedule I, the most restrictive category on the Texas Schedules of Controlled Substances, is reserved for unsafe, highly abused substances with no accepted medical use. Five chemicals, JWH -018, JWH-073, JWH-200, CP-47,497, and cannabicyclohexanol that are found in K2 were placed on the schedule.

Since January 2010, approximately 600 calls have been made to the Texas Poison Center Network related to K2 exposure. Reported adverse effects associated with use of these marijuana-like substances include chest pain, heart palpitations, agitation, drowsiness, hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and confusion. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com