Need to Know: School Ban on Synthetic Drugs

The new year comes with new rules for students in the Poway Unified School District: no more synthetic drugs.

District officials recently added the possession or distribution of synthetic drugs to the list of prohibited acts that are grounds for suspension or expulsion. The change was announced at the Dec. 12 board meeting and goes into effect this month.

The new rule follows crackdowns at the federal and state level on what is known as "spice" or "K2," a synthetic marijuana, and bath salts, which mimic the effects of amphetamines like cocaine. There have been instances of overdose, and the paranoia and other health effects (listed below) can be dangerous. Both have been designated, through emergency action by the DEA, as Schedule I substances under the federal Controlled Substances Act, and thus are illegal to possess.

Here's the exact language of the prohibited acts under the district administrative procedure for suspensions and expulsions, as it relates to synthetic drugs. A DEA fact sheet about synthetic marijuana is attached to this story.

(Administrative Procedure Section 5.8.1) Unlawfully possessing, using, having consumed, selling, or otherwise furnishing, or being under the influence of alcohol, any narcotic, dangerous drug, unauthorized prescription medication (e.g., Soma, Ritalin), or other controlled substance (e.g., marijuana, crystal methamphetamine, or anabolic steroid), synthetic drugs (e.g., spice, k-2, bath salts, etc.), or intoxicant of any kind, or any controlled substance listed in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11053) of Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code.

Unlawfully transferring, selling, distributing, offering, arranging, or negotiating to sell, or possessing quantities sufficient to suggest the intent to purvey, give, or sell to other students, substances which are, or are purported to be, alcohol, any narcotic, dangerous drug, unauthorized prescription medication (e.g., Soma, Ritalin), other controlled substance (e.g., marijuana, crystal methamphetamine, or anabolic steroid), synthetic drugs (e.g., spice, k-2, bath salts, etc.), or intoxicant of any kind, or any controlled substance listed in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11053) of Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code.

Street Names for Fake Marijuana

• Spice
• K2
• Fake weed
• Yucatan Fire
• Skunk
• Moon Rocks
• Bliss
• Black Mamba
• Bombay Blue
• Genie
• Zohai

Potential Health Effects

• Paranoia
• Panic attacks
• Giddiness
• Increased heart rate
• Increased blood pressure

Street Names for Bath Salts

• Ivory Wave
• Purple Wave
• Red Dove
• Blue Silk
• Zoom
• Bloom
• Cloud Nine
• Ocean Snow
• Lunar Wave
• Vanilla Sky
• White Lightning
• Scarface
• Hurricane Charlie
• Plant food

Potential Health Effects

• Chest pains
• Increased blood pressure
• Increased heart rate
• Agitation
• Hallucinations
• Extreme paranoia
• Delusions
• Reduced motor control
• Disorientation
• Violent episodes

Resources:

Fake marijuana under federal regulation (DEA, March 2011)

Bath salts under federal regulation (DEA, October 2011)