Posted on January 13, 2012

When the Drug Enforcement Administration outlawed five chemicals commonly found in synthetic marijuana products like Spice and K2 last March, it was no surprise that replacements were already on the way. All it took was a minor change in chemical make-up to get around the ban, and thus emerged K3.

How K2 and K3 Differ

Although K3 is made up of different chemicals than K2, the effects and dangers are largely the same. In the past few years, hospitals and poison control centers have sounded the alarms about fake pot products, warning of dangerous side effects such as extreme anxiety, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, vomiting and seizures. Yet the demand for the drugs remains high, especially among teens, who are drawn to the drug because it is legal and does not show up in drug tests.

Like K2, K3 is advertised as incense and is labeled “not for human consumption” to avoid legal scrutiny. Unlike K2, websites that sell K3 indicate that the drug contains Damiana, an herb from South America, and other herbs that make it more potent. Users report that K3 more closely resembles marijuana than K2 in terms of appearance, but it is unclear which ingredients are responsible for the drug’s euphoric effects.

Legal Doesn’t Mean Safe 

Constant changes in the chemical compounds in these drugs forces local governments and law enforcement to remain vigilant in detecting new trends and amending laws to try to keep up. Because the DEA’s ban applies only to specific chemicals, the police have no authority to take action against stores selling K3 other than to test the products for chemicals on the banned list. Many of these stores also continue to sell bath salts, which are similar to meth or cocaine, and other synthetic drugs that have caused panic attacks and even psychosis among users.

Until the DEA takes a broader approach to regulating synthetic drugs, it’s up to parents, teachers and other concerned adults to discuss the drugs’ dangers with teens. When it comes to drugs, legal does not mean safe.