Ban on synthetic marijuana among first bills to be heard in Minnesota Senate
Monday, January 10, 2011 at 9:20 am
- 12 Comments
Two legislators will introduce legislation on Monday to ban synthetic marijuana in Minnesota. Sens. Katie Sieben, DFL-Newport, and Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria, will introduce a bill to ban “Spice,” “K2″ and other herbal products containing synthetic cannabinoids. Bans have already been imposed in much of Europe, and more than a dozen American states as well as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency made the substances illegal in December.
“The use of this synthetic drug is increasing rapidly among teenagers because it is currently legal. However, this product is clearly dangerous,” Sen. Sieben said in a statement last summer. “Teens are ending up in the emergency room, in a coma, or even dying. After the close call with the boy in Hastings, we need to take action in Minnesota to keep this drug out of the hands of our kids.”
Last July, 14-year old Sam Huberty was hospitalized after smoking one of the synthetic marijuana blends which contains herbs sprayed with a synthetic cannabinoids, chemicals similar to those found in natural marijuana.
Minnesota has yet to ban the drug, but the DEA moved in December to ban synthetic cannabinoids. Several Minnesota businesses that sell synthetic marijuana have sued the DEA over the ban.
If the state legislature passes the bill and Gov. Mark Dayton signs it into law, Minnesota would join Kansas, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oregon, Illinois, Michigan and Kentucky in banning the drug.
According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, no deaths have reported due to toxicity of the drug, “but symptoms have also included agitation, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, tremors and chest pain in some cases.”
Sieben said the issue is a top priority for her this session. “States around us are acting fast to get these dangerous products off the shelves,” she said. “Protecting our kids by making synthetic marijuana illegal will be one of my top priorities in the 2011 Session.”
Follow Andy Birkey on Twitter12 Comments
Comment posted January 10, 2011 @ 9:35 am
If only there were a natural product with a long track record of safety that could substitute for synthetic marijuana!
Comment posted January 10, 2011 @ 3:12 pm
“no deaths have reported due to toxicity of the drug, “but symptoms have also included agitation, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, tremors and chest pain in some cases.”
Sounds like its pretty safe compared to the substances the pharmaceutical industry are allowed to put out with the FDA’s full blessing. Still, I wouldn’t touch the stuff.
“ifonly” has the right idea above!
Comment posted January 10, 2011 @ 6:09 pm
Ridiculous. The fact that this is being banned, but crap like 5 Hour Energy and Guarana and heck, even CAFFEINE are still totally legal shows what a stupid double standard exists in legislating substances.
Comment posted January 10, 2011 @ 8:31 pm
What is the reason for “synthesizing” Marijuana when the outcome of using REAL Marijuana is MUCH MUCH less Our fore-fathers wanted HEMP grown ALL OVER`!!
Comment posted January 11, 2011 @ 1:04 pm
Let’s ban freedom-snatching politicans instead. Good luck getting re-elected.
Comment posted January 13, 2011 @ 1:07 pm
There is one safe, simple, sure-fire way to ensure that this product won’t be used. Legalize marijuana. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? That’s because it is.
Comment posted January 17, 2011 @ 2:44 pm
First of all, the DEA did not make the substances illegal in December. They announced a ‘notice of intent’ on November 24th, 2010 and that means they had to wait at least 30 days before filing the final paperwork for the emergency scheduling. They still haven’t filed those papers with the Federal Registry. All synthetic cannabinoids are still legal on the federal level (by the way, the proposed DEA ban only applies to JWH-018, JHW-073, JWH-200, CP-47,497, and cannabicyclohexanol).
Secondly, the state of Michigan accidentally erred when rewriting their drug laws (to change harsh mandatory minimum sentences) and all the synthetic cannabinoids (as well as BZP’s) that were made illegal in Michigan in late September have since had their criminal penalties completely removed. The Michigan legislature will attempt to fix this sometime after January 2011.
Comment posted February 24, 2011 @ 5:20 am
SO when is Dayton legalizing Marijuana? Weren’t we supposed to be looking at ALL creative solutions to the budget deficit?
THE DAYTON MARIJUANA TAX ACT OF 2011, will put us back in the black and make Minnesota prosperous.
Comment posted July 25, 2011 @ 4:21 pm
“Teens are ending up in the emergency room, in a coma, or even dying.”
According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, no deaths have reported due to toxicity of the drug, “but symptoms have also included agitation, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, tremors and chest pain in some cases.”
If I’m reading that correctly that sounds a “little” bit contradictory to me lol…
Last July, 14-year old Sam Huberty was hospitalized after smoking one of the synthetic marijuana blends which contains herbs sprayed with a synthetic cannabinoids, chemicals similar to those found in natural marijuana.
I am fuckin sick of hearing about cases like this (and about other numerous drugs).. You need to be 18 to buy this stuff for a reason! If it is that much of a concern to him or his parents they need to keep to themselves and raise their damn kid better!
Comment posted September 20, 2011 @ 12:40 pm
It is the prohibition of marijuana which has made this niche for legal weed alternatives. A niche which herbal incense products are filling rather successfully. The bans against k2 smoke products are not solving anything. Many places exist where one may still buy k2 incense and seemingly vendors like, http://www.buyk2.com claim that the k2 herb products they sell are legal everywhere.
Comment posted November 1, 2011 @ 2:43 pm
WOW MN- these politicians have NOTHING More to worry about huh?
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