This document discusses K2 Spice, a synthetic marijuana product. It is made of herbs sprayed with lab-made chemicals called synthetic cannabinoids that mimic THC. K2 Spice is dangerous as the chemicals are untested and can cause unpredictable adverse effects like anxiety, hallucinations, and increased heart rate. While marketed as natural, K2 Spice is illegal and addictive with withdrawal symptoms. The document warns of health risks and urges banning its sale. An example is given of NFL player Chandler Jones having a bad reaction to K2 Spice requiring police help.

1. K2 SPICE
BY: MIKAYLA SINGAS

2. WHAT IS K2 SPICE?
• K2 Spice or just Spice, is a mixture of many different types of “natural” dried herbs
and plants that are sprayed with a mixture of chemical additives that produce a high
experience similar to that of cannabis (marijuana).
• The active ingredients sprayed onto the herbs or plant material is synthetic man-
made compounds called cannabinoids that are to resemble the chemicals in the
marijuana plant.
• The plant material is doused in laboratory made chemicals that the Drug
Enfoncement Administration (DEA) has declared to be unsafe and illegal to sell.
• Synthetic cannabinoids are in the group of drugs called "new psychoactive
substances" (NPS). NPS are unregulated and psychoactive mind altering substances
that are intended to mimic the affects of illegal drugs.

3. FALSE ADVERTISING AND WHERE TO
GET K2 SPICE
• Being marketed as (natural) has made K2
Spice popular among teenagers and young
adults because they believe it is safer for
them to use than real marijuana.
• Another reasons K2 Spice is popular is
because the chemical ingredients are not
easy to detect on standard drug tests.
• K2 Spice is sold in gas stations, drug
paraphernalia shops, and online. The
chemical combinations are constantly
changed in order to keep the substances
on the market since K2 Spice is illegal.
• It is sold as herbal incense for smoking and
in liquid incense forms to be used in e-
cigarettes and vaporizers. It can also be
brewed in tea.

4. HOW DOES K2 SPICE AFFECT THE
BRAIN?
• K2 Spice works similarly to marijuana in the brain. THC (delta-9-
tetrahydrocannabinol) is the mind-altering ingredient in marijuana. Synthetic
cannabinoids act on the exact same brain receptors that THC acts on in the
Endocannabinoid system throughout the brain and body.
• Some K2 Spice cannabinoids bind more strongly to the receptors than marijuana
THC does, which causes more intense effects for the user that can be very
unpredictable.
• Every batch of K2 Spice is different and users never know the exact chemical
compositions used, thus creating adverse and very different affects with every
usage.

5. THE EXPERIENCES OF K2 SPICE
Similar to Marijuana effects
• Relaxation
• Elevated mood
• Altered perception – awareness of
surrounding conditions and objects
K2 Spice / Psychotic effects
• Extreme anxiety
• Paranoia - extreme and unreasonable
distrust of others
• Hallucinations - sensations and images
that seem real though they are not
• Confusion

6. HEALTH AFFECTS AND IS K2 SPICE
ADDICTIVE?
• People that use K2 Spice that have been taken to Poison Control Centers or the
Emergency Room have had symptoms of vomiting, rapid heart rate, hallucinations,
suicidal thoughts, agitation, and violent behaviors.
• Synthetic cannabinoid usage can also lead to kidney damage, seizures, and even
heart attacks. Usage can raise blood pressure and reduce the flow of blood supply
to the heart.
• K2 Spice and its synthetic cannabinoids can be addictive. Regular users trying to
quit have and can experience intense withdrawal symptoms such as irritability,
headaches, depression, and anxiety.
• While there has not been much scientific study on K2 spice and its affects, the little
that is known is vital information to show the health concerns and reasons as to why
to stay away from it.

7. “
”
THIS MAN GOT DOWN ON HIS KNEES, HE INTERLOCKED HIS FINGERS,
AND HE PLACED HIS HANDS TIGHTLY AGAINST THE BACK OF HIS
HEAD…FOR A QUICK SECOND OR TWO, THIS MAN HELD THIS POSITION
— IT WAS LIKE THIS MAN WAS TRYING TO SURRENDER (HE WAS
LITERALLY ‘AS STIFF AS A BOARD’/HE WAS BOTH UPRIGHT AND
RIGID…HE GOT ONTO THE GROUND AND IT WAS LIKE HE WAS ACTIVELY
PRAYING OR WORSHIPPING… IT WAS QUITE EVIDENT THAT MR. JONES
WAS DESPERATELY SEEKING OUR ASSISTANCE.
- Police Officer David J. Foscaldo of Foxborough Massachusetts on NFL Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones after his
public bad trip on K2 spice in January 2016
Chandler Jones used K2 Spice in his home and later walked shirtless and confused to the Foxborough Police
station looking for help after a bad reaction that the synthetic cannabinoids caused him. The incident was
described as a “medical emergency”. Jones is 6’5 260 pound black man and in professional athletic shape.

8. MY THOUGHTS
• I believe that I actually have been high on K2 Spice. It was freshmen year of college
(I went somewhere else) and I was not informed that spice was what I would be
smoking. I suffered extreme anxiety, paranoia, and possible hallucinations (I am still
not too sure if those happened or not, the experience was very scary and confusing).
My friend experienced the same along with vomiting and immense confusion and
we definitely had increased heart rates. It was the worst experience of my life.
• I think there definitely needs to be more research and tests done on K2 Spice
because people are using it and having horrible experiences and reactions. Also its
effects are extremely negative and very dangerous to one’s health.
• More information MUST get out there about how this drug is not as safe as its made
out to be and young people need to be educated more on it.
• A stricter law needs to be made nation wide in order to ban any selling of K2 Spice
and to make sure usage, possession, and selling of it is illegal. Law enforcements
need to back up the laws and crack down on any offenders.
• I personally will always hate K2 spice and if anything this project has helped me
because I’m now confident that synthetic weed is what I was under the influence of
years back and I can now have some peace with filling in some of the blanks.

9. DISCUSSION QUESTION
• Do you think K2 Spice has the potential to get less and
less popular as more states begin to legalize marijuana
and/or could real marijuana be a logical strategy to stop
someone from resorting to using K2 Spice?

10. WORKS CITED
• Abuse, National Institute on Drug. "Synthetic Cannabinoids." NIDA. N.p., Nov.
2015. Web. 04 Apr. 2017.
<https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/synthetic-
cannabinoids>
• Manning, Allison. "Shirtless Chandler Jones Knelt down in Police Parking Lot,
Appeared to Be Praying during Medical Incident." Boston.com. The
Boston Globe, 14 Jan. 2016. Web. 04 Apr. 2017.
<https://www.boston.com/sports/new-england-
patriots/2016/01/14/shirtless-chandler-jones-knelt-down-in-police-
parking-lot-appeared-to-be-praying-during-medical-incident>