Wave Of Illness In Newark May Be Due To 'Synthetic Marijuana': Police

NEWARK, NJ — Newark authorities are investigating the possibility that 10 incidents of “sick or injured individuals” in the city may have been caused by a "synthetic marijuana" product, K2.

The Newark Department of Public Safety issued a statement on Monday about the incidents, the first of which was called in to police at 8:12 a.m. Since then, police have received an additional nine incidents at various locations throughout the city.

“Police are investigating the likelihood the influx is being caused by people ingesting synthetic marijuana,” Department of Public Safety Captain Derek Glenn stated Monday.

While products such as K2 are often marketed as an alternative to cannabis, the active chemicals commonly found in its commercial varieties are completely different from Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive component of true marijuana.

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Detectives from the Police Division’s Narcotics and Criminal Intelligence Units have initiated an investigation in an effort to determine the origins and causes of the sickness. Police have also contacted the Drug Monitoring Initiative, Glenn said.

“In late April, we had an influx of individuals also sickened after ingesting synthetic marijuana,” Glenn added. “The reported incidents subsided after the arrest of numerous suspects.”

Anyone with information about the incidents can call the department's 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867). Anonymous tips may also be made using the Police Division’s website at: www.newarkpd.org or through the new Smartphone App available at iTunes or on Google Play.

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