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THE EVOLUTION OF K2Mike Carey, Substance Abuse CommitteeChampaign County, ILWow what a ride we have been on the past 2-3 years with synthetic marijuana, spice, or K2. We call it K2 because it has been themost popular brand and came on the scene early. However, as we know it comes with all kinds of brand names: Euphoria, Smoke,Funky Monkey, Mad Hatter and a host of other names to lengthy to mention. Law enforcement and the criminal justice system haveplayed a cat and mouse game with manufacturers, distributors, dealers and users which probably has not played out yet.I would like to take a time out and look back at what has transpired. Where did this stuff come from? What is it? What does it do?And where is it going. It has moved fast but may hold many answers as to how new drugs may be introduced and marketed in thefuture. It may also be a lesson in how we deal with this and handle future assaults on skirting the law.The first and most popular varieties of synthetic cannabis, JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-250 and so on were developed in the 1980’sat Clemson University by Professor John W. Huffman. Since then there have been the development of over 250 different moleculeswith varying names reflecting who developed them. HU is Hebrew University; CP is Pfizer and so on. These varying forms of syntheticcannabis can be ordered by a host of manufactures predominantly in China.Spice is made by ordering your JWH-018 or whatever variety you wish, there are many to choose from. Using an acetone product tomix with your JWH-018 to make it a liquid instead of a powder. Spraying crushed foliage (leaves of various plants) with the liquidor submerging the leaves in the liquid. You can then add other liquids to give it an aroma. Blueberry, Strawberry, or whateveraroma you want it to have. This can be sprayed on as well. The crushed leaves then must be completely dried before packaging themixture up.In the early 2000’s the resulting mixtures began appearing in Europe and was sold as potpourri or incense. This is importantbecause this laid the ground work for the marketing of the product and its ability to be sold in stores legally. This was accomplishedby labeling it Not For Human Consumption. Europe quickly realized what was going on and began banning the substances longbefore it came to the US.K2 or Spice eased into the US and received no notice or warning. Despite being outlawed in many European countries the US hadnot experienced this type of drug before. It was sold legally on the shelves of smoke shops, convenience stores and truck stops.Nobody took notice as it was there for all to see and it was labeled “Not For Human Consumption” and sold as potpourri andincense. After all it was legal. There was no advertising but word of its availability spread via the internet and word of mouth. It wastouted in magazines such as High Times and other recreational drug use publications.It became a problem before law enforcement, the criminal justice systems and the medical field knew what it was. There wereemergency room visits and calls to poison control but there was not much knowledge of this and hospitals did not test for it. Only afew cases where the individuals self reported that this is what they used did a pattern start appearing. By the time it had beenestablished that people were smoking this stuff and it was causing medical problems its use was wide spread. Poison Control figuredout what it was as well as emergency room physicians. Legislators and law enforcement started looking at it and realized it was adrug and something needed to be done about it.6