Illegal drugs seized from head shops

Police have seized about $30,000 worth of illegal drugs from local shops that sell pipes, bongs and other smoking accessories.

Synthetic marijuana was being sold at seven different stores, including Bongs & Such, Smoker's Corner and Grass Roots.

Synthetic cannabis, which also goes by the brand names Spice, K2, Yucatan Fire, Tribe and Skunk, is a herbal and chemical product which mimics the effects of marijuana. According to medical reports from the U.S., users have suffered various side effects from using synthetic marijuana, including panic attacks, heart palpitations, hallucination, delusions and vomiting.

It's illegal in Canada.

There have been approximately 50 seizures of this drug across Canada since 2008, but this is the first known seizure of this drug in the Prairie Region.

Many of the synthetic compounds used to make synthetic marijuana fall under Schedule II of the Controlled Drug and Substances Act. Spice is also illegal in many European countries and several states in the U.S.

Original article can be found here at ctvcalgary.ca

Local News: Cocaine, guns seized in raids

Police have seized nearly four kilos of cocaine in a recent raid.

Officers executed six search warrants at various locations in Calgary on Tuesday. Homes were searched in Hidden Hills, Panorama Hills and the 2200 block of 68 Street N.E.

Investigators believe these locations were used as stash locations for various quantities of cocaine.

The residences on 68 Street and Panatella Street were used solely for the purpose of storage and conversion of cocaine into crack cocaine.

In total, police seized 3.6 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated $350,000, cash totaling $45,000, two handguns, one M1 assault rifle, and a conducted energy weapon.

Alexander Kosmak, 26, of Calgary was arrested inside one of the searched homes.

Kosmak faces 41 criminal code charges for drug and weapons-related offences.

Philip Defazio, 22, of Calgary, faces four charges connected with drug trafficking and weapons offences.

The Original Article can be found Here at ctvcalgary.ca

Spice: A Dangerous New Drug

Drug Abuse That Is Legal

There’s a drug popular with teens in the U.S. that many parents may never have heard of, but worst of all – it is legal. This drug, called “Spice” or “K2” is said to give the user a marijuana-like high. Sold in shops and online as incense, it is being smoked as a legal alternative to marijuana. But this drug appears to have far more dangerous side-effects and without the necessary regulation, consumers have no idea what they’re really getting.

Spice originally appeared on the scene in the late 1990s, but didn’t really become popular until 2008. As the drug gained popularity in Europe, scientists began conducting research into the composition of this drug and any potential effects on the body. As a result of these investigations, many countries subsequently banned Spice including Germany, France, Chile, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, and the U.K. The United States currently has no such ban on the drug, likely due to the fact that it has only recently become popular in the U.S.

German researchers were able to determine that Spice contained a variety of synthetic cannabinoids, which are chemical compounds devised to produce marijuana-like effects. There was a high quantity of other synthetic chemicals found as well, indicating that a user really has no way of knowing what they are being exposed to. Worse yet, Spice appears to have many negative side effects that marijuana does not such as anxiety attacks, hallucinations, nausea, and a chemical dependency. Three teenagers in Roswell, GA were recently hospitalized after using Spice. One teen had a severe reaction to the drug, resulting in swelling of the brain.

Currently there is no way to test for the use of Spice, as it is not a regulated drug. Theoretically, children under the age of 18 cannot buy the drug, as head shops and online stores are not supposed to sell to minors. As this drug is still legal in the U.S., many people may be led to believe that it is a safe alternative to marijuana. This could not be further from the truth. Parents, teachers, and lawmakers need to be made aware that this drug is out there and that it has the potential to harm the lives of our children.

Sources:

Deutsche Welle: Germany Bans Cannabis-Like Drug

Times Online: 'Spice' Ban As Tests Show Legal Drug As Potent As Cannabis

Wikipedia Entry for "Spice"

Mind Hacks - Spice Flow: The New Pharmacology

My Fox Atlanta: Roswell Police Warn of Synthetic Pot

Creative Loafing: Spice Is A Helluva Drug

The original article can be found Here at Hub Pages.com by Melissa McClain

Teens Using Marijuana at Younger Ages

The following article was first published on October 14th of 2010 in the Foster Folly News

New Data Shows Average Age of First Use Dropping; White House Drug Policy Director Warns of Consequences of Rising Teen Marijuana Use.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Policy (ONDCP), today alerted parents to the heightened dangers of marijuana use that has risen sharply, with kids starting to use the drug at a younger age.

According to recently released data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), there were 2.4 million new past-year users of marijuana in 2009 and the average age of initiation – first-time use of the drug − dropped from 17.8 in 2008 to 17.0 in 2009. The survey also reported a nine percent increase (from 6.7% to 7.3%) of current users of marijuana age 12 or older between 2008 and 2009.

Marijuana use is associated with dependence, respiratory and mental illness, poor motor performance, and cognitive impairment, among other negative effects. Although using drugs at any age can lead to addiction, research shows the earlier a person begins to use drugs, the more likely they are to progress to more serious abuse and addiction – even later in life, after use has decreased, reflecting the harmful, long-lasting effects drugs can have on the developing brain. Research suggests the human brain is still maturing during the adolescent years, with significant changes continuing into the early 20s.

“Marijuana use is increasing, teens are starting to use the drug at younger ages, and attitudes about the dangers of drug use are eroding,” said Kerlikowske. “We recognize American families are facing many challenges today, but failing to adequately prevent young people from using drugs now can lead to a lifetime of devastating consequences.”

A renewed focus on drug prevention is a major component of the Obama Administration's effort to implement a public health approach to reducing drug abuse and its consequences. President Obama's FY 2011 Budget request includes an increase of more than $203 million in prevention funding – a 13 percent increase.

Last week, Director Kerlikowske cited three steps parents can take to protect young people from illegal drug use, including talking to kids about drugs, learning to spot risk factors, and going through medicine cabinets to remove expired, un-needed, or unused prescription drugs. For more tips and parenting resources, visit: www.TheAntiDrug.com.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy seeks to foster healthy individuals and safe communities by effectively leading the Nation’s effort to reduce drug use and its consequences

Original Article can be found Here