Synthetic marijuana use on the rise in Acadiana again
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) – Synthetic marijuana use is on the rise again, according to a Lafayette organization. Nearly three pounds of the artificial drug was found recently during a drug bust in Rapides Parish.
"It can be found all over. It's a very popular drug," Acadiana Harm Reduction Founder Kady Duhon said. "We do have an increase of consumption in Lafayette of synthetic marijuana right now. We're not quite sure the reason for that."
Duhon says synthetic marijuana, also known as 'spice' or 'K-2,' can be very harmful, as people are making it in their homes with random chemicals. According to the DEA, the chemicals are sprayed on plant materials then smoked.
"Some people use rat poison on this drug. Some people use bleach. There's many different, very dangerous different chemicals that I've heard to be put in this," Duhon added.
Synthetic marijuana is intended to mimic THC, the main ingredient that gives marijuana its effect. Duhon says her organization sees the negative effects of synthetic marijuana on users.
"Many people suffer permanent, psychological damage from this drug. Many people have to go to lifelong therapy. They have to do all kinds of things just because they used this drug one time," she told News 10.
Synthetic marijuana used to be legal. According to the FDA, it was sold in convenience stores as substitutes for marijuana. In 2012 though, President Obama signed a law that made synthetic drugs illegal.
Duhon says people then began making it at home.
"Around 2010, synthetic marijuana was extremely popular in Lafayette. It was sold in smoke shops. A lot of smoke shops got shut down because a lot of minors were using the synthetic marijuana. Now 14 years later, we're seeing another surge in this drug again, but it's more dangerous this time because it's not being sold in the smoke shop. It's being made in bathtubs," Duhon said.
She adds that most people who seek synthetic marijuana seek it out because it's a cheaper alternative. However, she says some people do unknowingly ingest it.