Mayor Dick Moore of Elkhart, Indiana said that he supports Indiana Legislative efforts to outlaw the incense, Mr. Smiley that is being sold in Elkhart. Indiana hopes to outlaw this dangerous incense that is being used to get high. It has already been outlawed in Kansas, Alabama and Missouri is soon expected to ban this dangerous synthetic marijuana
At a recent city council meeting many people expressed alarm over the easy access to this dangerous substance. Teenagers and the 20-something age group use it to get high. 25 people in just the last year have had serious physical concerns as a result of using K2 , aka Mr. Smiley, Mr. Spice. It is more dangerous than marijuana, which is still illegal in spite of the desire of many marijuana smokers. Those who have inhaled this dangerous substance that were sent to the emergency room experienced everything from dangerously elevated blood pressure, hallucinations, agitation and seizures according to Brent Furbee, the director of the Indiana Poison Center.
Be aware that if you are intoxicated on this substance and operating a motor vehicle you still can be arrested. It is legal because it doesn’t contain THC, the psychcoactive ingredient in marijuana but is actually more dangerous than using marijuana.
One of the most dangerous things about K2 is that many believe that it is harmless because it is a natural herb. It is not illegal and it looks like marijuana. They don’t know what the ramifications are if they inhale it. You don’t have to smoke it to experience the dangerous effects from it. It is even more chilling that this dangerous incense is packaged in a tin with a smiley face on it. It makes it appear all the more innocent in this cute little container.
Because of Councilman Brian Thomas, R-2nd, a local convenience store stopped advertising and selling K2, aka Mr. Smiley, or Mr. Spice. He told them that he would boycott their store if they didn’t stop selling it. There is power in numbers and it is important to let these merchants know that we do not want it available to our children or anyone else in our area.
Councilman Rod Roberson, D-at large, also became aware of K2 being sold in his area. He lives in the Historic Roosevelt Center. He recently learned that K2 was available at several locations near his residence at the Historic Roosevelt Center.Mayor Dick Moore said that he is sending the city’s code enforcement officers around to the local convenience stores and gas stations to ask them to remove this dangerous product from their stores. He knows that he has no legal power to stop them but hopes that it will soon be banned like other states have done. He was not aware that K2 was even around here.
Mayor Dick Moore said that he doesn’t want our kids walking around intoxicated. It may sound simplistic but most parents would agree with him.
