Who knew something as innocent as bubble gum could lead to so many illnesses?
Of course, the "bubble gum" that shops in New Hampshire are pawning is not really so innocent after all as it is laced with synthetic pot.
New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan declared a state of emergency after 44 citizens of New Hampshire overdosed on a product called "Smacked!" this week. The product is loaded with artificial pot and is labeled and sold legally as a bubble gum flavor. By declaring a state of emergency, Hassan gave state police the right to seize packets of the drug.
Currently being sold in New Hampshire as potpourri, but not licensed for human ingestion, synthetic pot can be more dangerous than natural cannabis. The drug is often sold under the guise of "spice," but is then ingested by buyers looking to get high. People either smoke the artificial chemicals or infuse them into tea.
Many states have a ban against synthetic pot, but it is hard to keep the companies down as they keep changing the composition of the drug to escape regulations. This makes the drug even more dangerous, says Dr. Jose Montero, state public health director for New Hampshire, especially as people are likely to confuse the drug with the more safe marijuana. The companies producing synthetic pot "keep changing it all the time, playing this game with the federal government to see what's illegal and what isn't," Dr. Montero said. "These are just psychotropic drugs."
State officials in Massachusetts are also dealing with synthetic pot.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration declared that many of the chemicals that make up synthetic pot were controlled substances in 2011. However, if state law does not specifically ban the drugs, it leaves local law enforcement powerless to do anything about the drugs without calling in federal drug enforcement agents.
Hassan said that the state of New Hampshire found controlled cannabinoid substances in many products labeled as "spice," but the one she called out specifically as a major problem was Smacked! At least 41 people have been made seriously ill by that product this week, she said.
No deaths from synthetic pot use have been reported yet, but the drug has caused other severe symptoms, like hallucinations and fainting.
"These products pose a serious threat to public health, especially to young people, and it is our responsibility to do whatever we can to combat the recent rash of overdoses," Hassan said in a statement.
