Sadly, New Yorkers Still Need a Reminder About the Danger of Synthetic Marijuana

Overall, synthetic marijuana-related ER visits are on the rise in New York City this year.

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Over a dozen people in New York have been hospitalized recently following incidents with synthetic marijuana, officials say. The substance was banned by the state in 2012. 

According to CBS New York, the New York City Department of Health revealed that 15 people have been rushed to emergency rooms across the city in recent days. Worse, the DOH says emergency room visits have risen by an alarming 220 percent this year: 

K2, Spice, Green Giant—no matter what you call it, synthetic cannabinoids are dangerous and illegal. I urge people not to use these products, which have caused a huge spike in emergency room visits this year.

Furthermore, the DOH's Dr. Denise Paone told CBS New York that synthetic marijuana still continues to appear in bodegas despite its illegal status. Paone said the agency just wants people to be aware of the well-documented effects of smoking it. "We really want to just warn New Yorkers that these are dangerous and illegal and not to buy them and also to report if they see them in stores," she explained.

At this point, people shouldn't need the warning or reminder, but when you consider the fact that drugs like heroin and meth are used with the knowledge of what they can do, it all makes sense—very disappointing sense.

[via CBS New York]

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