SIKESTON -- Over the past year reports of harmful effects from fake marijuana use are skyrocketing across the nation, and Southeast Missouri isn't exempt from the life-threatening trend.
"We know there are some locations in Southeast Missouri that are selling the synthetic marijuana products," said Sgt. Kevin Glaser, supervisor of Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force. "We're not seeing it as a huge problem in this area yet, but generally, it's a matter of time before it starts picking up momentum, and we see more of it."
Synthetic marijuana, marketed under product names including "Spice," "K2," "Genie," "Yucatan Fire," "Sence," "Smoke," "Skunk," and "Zohai," has spurred calls to poison centers from 49 states and the District of Columbia. As of Dec. 21, poison centers reported 2,752 calls about the products, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System.
"These products present a health risk that is not worth it for consumers," said Missouri Poison Center Medical Director Dr. Anthony J. Scalzo, who first noticed increased calls about these products to his center in November 2009. "The products are meant to create a similar reaction to marijuana, but in fact, patients often report the opposite -- a fast, racing heartbeat, elevated blood pressure and nausea."
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