What is Spice?

Spice is a large variety of herbal mixtures that produce the same sort of high that marijuana (cannabis) gives only it is marked as a “safe”, legal alternative. It is sold under names such as K2, fake weed, Yucatan Fire, Skunk, Moon Rocks, and others. It is labeled as “not for human consumption”—meaning they contain chemical additives or dried, shredded plant material. They have been easy to purchase in gas stations, the internet, and head shops, or a store that sells drug-related paraphernalia. Spice affects the brain giving an elevated mood, relaxation, and altered perception, sometimes these effects are even much stronger than marijuana. Spice products act on the same cell receptors as THC, the primary psychoactive component of marijuana. Some of these compounds, bind more strongly to those receptors, which leads to the more intensified high. Since the true components of spice aren’t known, these substances could cause dramatic effects on the brain. The effects of spice cause symptoms of include rapid heart rate, vomiting, agitation, confusion, and hallucinations. It can also raise blood pressure and cause reduced blood supply to the heart blood supply to the heart and has even  been known  to cause heart attacks. Spice should be considered very dangerous since we don’t know exactly how they affect human health or just how toxic it may be.

Cassie R. 

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/spice-synthetic-marijuana