The DEA first publicized its plans to outlaw synthetic marijuana products in late November, but the start date of the 12-month ban was delayed until Tuesday, said DEA Special Agent Rich Isaacson, who works out of the Detroit office that covers three states, including Ohio.
“We are hoping at the very least, we are going to slow down abuse of these products,” he said.
Isaacson said stores that sell Spice and other “fake pot” products containing these chemicals should remove the items from their shelves and destroy them to avoid running afoul of federal law.
Isaacson said banning synthetic marijuana, which is sold as incense and contains labels warning “not for human consumption,” sends a message that the products are not a safe alternative to marijuana.
Teenagers, young adults and marijuana smokers who want to pass drug tests are some of the most avid users of Spice and K2, law enforcement officials said.
But many people who smoke the products report becoming ill, and the American Association of Poison Control Centers received more than 2,200 calls about the substances.
“Hopefully, this will help elevate the perception of risk for some of these substances,” Isaacson said.
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