Dangers of Smoking Spice

Smoking spice has been a growing health concern and was made as an officially banned drug as of 1st March 2011, where the US has now stopped selling these in stores after strict ban rules were passed by the DEA. Some European countries banned the selling and buying of these drugs way before the US brought the rule into effect. It is gaining momentum when it comes to its popularity among teens and young adults, who are taking up this so-called 'herbal incense' and smoking it like it were marijuana.

It is a replica of weed, although not quite, being a synthetic cannabinoid by nature. This means that the drug in question, called 'Spice' has been nationally and globally distributed as an incense but funnily people have been buying these as a way of getting stoned, especially with it being a legal drug before the ban was passed. It is also sold online for those who don't have access to this fake marijuana twin that's been making waves among users. Little do they know that when they smoke this stuff up, it could be their last drag.

There's a lot of controversial debate going around about this drug, where it has been noted to be much more expensive than street-sold marijuana! One gram of Spice will cost you about $25, where marijuana is way cheaper than this. The main synthetic cannabinoid element present in Spice, is called JWH-018, and can induce a high that is very similar to that of marijuana.

What are the Dangers of Smoking Spice?

Catnip was also a problem as of late where people are using this plant by not ingesting it for its herbal remedies, but habituating the system to 'smoking' it like real weed. What is this world coming to with experimentations that don't even guarantee that you will see the light of day again? When it comes to drugs, you can never be too certain, or exercise enough caution when trying it out. It's all a matter of chance and if you will make it to the other side to tell everyone your tale of having smoked something that let you try it again the next day.

Facebook came up with a news update once, that got parents paranoid and young kids fascinated. It was stated that five deaths and 11 overdose victims were put up at a local hospital, where news channels later confirmed this by being a true case of smoking Spice. It now comes in cigarette form, not making it any better for smokers out there.

What's It Like to Smoke Spice?

Smoking Spice has been said to contain a stale flavoring bordering on something you'd smell (in this case taste) fresh out of the crap bin. It doesn't work well for those who team this up with drinking alcohol, since hangovers will be intensified the following morning with excruciating headaches at the base of one's skull, lasting for hours at a time.

For those who know what it's like to feel extremely hungry after smoking up a bag o' weed, will understand what it means to have those pangs right after a session. In the case of Spice though, the chemical compound in it, that is JWH-018, has an effect on the body that makes one steer clear away from feelings of hunger, with no signs whatsoever of food cravings. This has been noted for most smokers, while others seem to get hungry and dunk down food.

The most active ingredient present in Spice that is very similar to that of cannabis, is 1,1-dimethyloctyl homologue of the substance CP 47,497. Another ingredient that's been found to be an active ingredient in marijuana is HU-210, which has been found to be structurally similar to that of the cannabis plant. After all these tests were done, the DEA woke up and sniffed the air out for the first time, once it became clear that this legal drug had been making its way through the masses as the most sought after drug in the market.

Once it had been deemed as dangerous and highly risky for people to smoke, more so than marijuana ever did in the history of its existence, countries globally were on alert and slowly started banning Spice, making it official now. There was a noted episode in Roswell where teens were hospitalized upon using Spice, where one had a severe case of brain swelling after smoking this synthetic drug. It falls under many disguised names like Black Mamba, Dragon, Pep Spice, Bombay Blue and Ocean Breeze. Other known effects that Spice can invoke upon a person are, hallucinations, agitation, panic attacks, dilated pupils and vomiting.

The dangers of smoking spice cannot be taken lightly, since even if this is banned from stores, many people are still putting it up for sale online. Be sure to stop those who still manage to score Spice, and report it to the authorities to help save them from the dire health consequences.