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NYC Council Declares War on Synthetic Pot Sellers

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This year alone, about 4,500 people in the city landed up in hospital emergency rooms because of the K2 which is manufactured with chemicals.

In a unanimous decision last Wednesday, members of the New York City Council voted 44-0 to enforce new and tougher laws on those who sell synthetic marijuana. The council is crafting new legislation that would make it a crime to sell what is called “K2” (synthetic marijuana) and is calling for the closing of stores that peddle it. The crime would be a misdemeanor under city law and those who violate the new codes would be hit with a jail term of up to one year and a fine of $50,000.

The popularity of K2 which is also known by the nickname “spice” has been rapidly increasing among consumers as it is relatively inexpensive as opposed to legitimate marijuana. It is also readily available and is undetectable on drug tests, but sometimes this can lead to serious medical issues.

According to a Daily News report, this year alone, about 4,500 people in the city landed up in hospital emergency rooms because of the drug which is created with chemicals.

Mayor de Blasio is expected to sign the measure. His spokeswoman said that “the mayor will not tolerate the sale of K2 in New York City and supports the Council’s efforts to shut down sellers and strengthen penalties against those who try and sell this poison.”

Confirming the deleterious effects of the chemical based narcotic, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito (D-Manhattan) said, “The effects of K2 can be life threatening. It’s a very dangerous, dangerous drug.”

A bill is in the works that would mandate the city to revoke the tobacco license of businesses who violate the ban of selling K2 twice, according to the Daily News report. Another bill would give the city the authority to define those who repeatedly violate the law as a “public nuisance” and would be in a position to obtain an injunction to close down their establishments.

K2 is made by applying chemicals to leafy materials and can cause seizures, hallucinations, agitation and at times, violent behavior, according to the Daily News report.  It also may be linked to at least one death in the city, as a construction worker from Brooklyn was found unresponsive in his apartment. Authorities located an empty packet of K2 near the victim.

Back in 2012, the New York State Health Department under the auspices of Governor Andrew Cuomo issued a statewide ban on the substance but only called for a fine of $500 for violators.

The report indicates that since that time, those manufacturing the drug have been under the legal radar as they have devised tactics in which to circumvent the law. That is usually accomplished by tweaking the chemical formulas that are used in making the drug.

In order to eliminate a loophole in the law, the city council has taken measures that would also target anything that is sold as a K2 knock off or imitator.

One of the bills’ sponsors, Councilman Daniel Garodnick (D-Manhattan) said that “the city will have the right tools to help to put a stop to this dangerous drug.”

According to Mark-Viverito, “These bills will deal with the stores that distribute and sell K2, and are not being used to criminalize the vulnerable populations that are statistically likely to try the drug.”

While she supports the legalization of regular marijuana, Mark Viverito stands opposed to the sale of K2 because of its dangerous effects and that people who are seeking a cheaper alternative might become addicted to the riskier drug.

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