It's not your older brother's 'Doobie'.  Synthetic marijuana is threatening the lives of Frederick County Teens. It was created in 1995 by an undergraduate student at Clemson University who was investigating the effects of compounds similar to marijuana. The chemical is sprayed on plants, herbs and rolled into blunts. Ingredients vary as suppliers frequently change labels aimed to attract our youth and thwarting government intervention.

The basic chemicals of JWH-018 and JWH-073 are primarily responsible for the psychoactive effects imitating marijuana. Adverse affects include agitation, rapid heartbeat, confusion, dizziness, nausea, hallucinations, LSD-type trips, suicide, overdose death, and may lead to schizophrenia days after prolonged use. Chemicals in the products can be fourteen times stronger than marijuana.

Excerpt:  Dangers of ‘designer drugs’ bring alerts in Frederick County - Margarita Raycheva, Frederick Gazette, Nov. 17, 2011

In Frederick County, "the sale of synthetic marijuana is legal, as long as the buyers can prove they are older than 18. Joe Cohen, owner of Classic Cigars and British Goodies store in downtown Frederick, said he sells seven kinds of the synthetic marijuana, each of which is labeled “not for human consumption.” He said he always makes sure that his customers are at least 18 years old. “All this stuff you can buy online,” he said. “It’s kind of a new thing,” said Cohen. He sells potpourri for $15.95 a gram or $34.99 for three grams, and stressed that he cannot guarantee how customers use the product after they buy it any more than a hardware store can guarantee that its customers do not get high on the glue they bought.

“We have seen it rise in the community,” said Cpl. Jennifer Bailey, spokeswoman for the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, though she did not have specific numbers available.

She said the Sheriff’s Office and school officials are joining efforts to inform people about the harmful effects of these legal products." 

Now is the time to act in support of our Health Care Providers, Sheriff's Office, Schools, and most importantly, Our Children, in Frederick County and Maryland.  

Please join our community in signing this petition, contacting City, County, State and Federal officials to demand an immediate ban on the sale of Synthetic Marijuana.