New York's struggle with the synthetic marijuana known as K2 continues to torment families and communities, despite its illegality and the known dangers associated with its use. A recent case highlighted by CBS News New York involving Nathaniel Hester, whose life was cut tragically short after he became addicted to K2, reveals just how pervasive the issue is. His family shared that Hester initially turned to K2 in rehab, searching for a legal high in place of opioids.
While marijuana itself has since been legalized in New York, the black market for K2, which can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of licensed cannabis products, continues to flourish. According to City Journal, New York City's pot legalization has potentially increased the availability of K2, with smoke shops dotted across the city allegedly selling the substance labeled as "potpourri" or "incense." The insidious presence of this drug is no secret, considering the horrific subway incident involving Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, a repeated K2 user, who committed a brutal crime while under the influence of this substance.
The synthetic drug, which imitates the effects of marijuana but with extreme and often dangerous side effects, usually doesn't show up on standard drug tests. The New York State Health Department underlines the fact that K2 consists of hallucinogenic chemicals manufactured in labs, and it is sprayed onto dried leaves, creating an unpredictable and hazardous product. "It hits the receptors in the brain so much stronger than THC would that you're getting some of the benefits, but you get all of the negative effects like high blood pressure, fast heart rate, slow heart rate," Dr. Kenneth Winberg, chief medical officer and founder of Cannabis Doctor of New York, told CBS News New York.
The difficulty in combating K2's presence in the city lies in its ever-changing composition. Manufacturers tweak the ingredients to skirt around legal restrictions, making it tough for law enforcement to identify and prosecute the sale of K2, as quoted by the DEA in the CBS News New York article. These challenges are compounded by the fact that legal dispensaries face rigorous regulations, unlike their undercover counterparts selling K2. James Mallios, a partner at Charlie Fox dispensary, emphasized the array of requirements, from displaying licenses with QR codes to weekly reporting obligations and security inspections, all of which are not mirrored in smoke shops peddling K2 or unlicensed marijuana.
Driven by their tragic loss, Hester's family has taken action by starting a petition and addressing lawmakers in an effort to ban the sale and manufacturing of all variants of synthetic marijuana in the United States.
