‘Legal’ fake pot doesn’t mean it’s safe
Monday’s front-page picture of a car that plowed into a house in Aurora is stunning enough. The young man’s photo above it makes it tragic.
Max Dobner had left his home shortly after calling his brother to say he had smoked potpourri incense. The blend was perfectly legal and easy for anyone 18 or older to obtain. While it’s still uncertain the substance contributed to the crash that killed Dobner, who was 19, his death highlights a problem that’s increasingly frustrating to lawmakers, police and anyone who works with young people: how to deal with something so potentially harmful.
Synthetic pot, often called K2 or spice, is illegal in Illinois. A separate law effective this month expanded the types of substances banned, including hallucinogenic “bath salts.” But as fast as bans are enacted, new substances — such as the blend Dobner had smoked — are created and sold legally to skirt the law. It’s unlikely the cat-and-mouse game will end soon. The stuff is too lucrative to disappear. We’ve called for more legislation and regulation and improved enforcement, but in the meantime adults should understand the risks and children must be protected.
The biggest danger comes in not knowing the exact ingredients of these mixes, or their source. A Drug Enforcement Administration report says imported herbs are likely sprayed with synthetic marijuana compounds. In addition, what may give a euphoric high to one person might mean a trip to the ER for another. Effects can include a racing heartbeat, paranoia and seizures. Users may not realize they are playing with a loaded gun.
When it comes to what goes into our bodies, legal doesn’t necessarily mean safe. But legal sounds good, especially if it’s labeled natural. Cigarette packages now display grotesque images as reminders of the risks of smoking. Contrast that with the latest herb mixes, with flashy packaging and ethereal names that eclipse the weak admonition, “Not for human consumption.” Clearly, warning labels are warranted on a product whose health effects are so uncertain.
While college-age youths seem most drawn to the highs these substances produce, the substances are sure to trickle down to experiment-prone high school students as the legal products expand. It’s likely happening already. Anyone with a credit card can order them online. Schools should help communities stay on top of the fad through anti-drug events and public awareness campaigns. Parents must spell out the dangers to their kids and guide them to smart decisions.
The thrill of a high is nothing new, and there are as many ways to get one as there are products on a household shelf. Government regulation of every potential product could be unwieldy, if not occasionally misguided. Lawmakers and law enforcers’ next steps will be challenging and controversial, but until it’s sorted out for the public, too little knowledge is a dangerous thing.