by Jonny Velasquez
All forms of synthetic marijuana are now illegal in the state of Georgia. On March 27, 2012, Governor Nathan Deal signed “Chase’s Law” that outlaws all sales and possession.
Sophomore Fashion Design major Aubrey Busek commented, “I believe that making it illegal was a smart move, purely because people would believe it is ‘safer’, so they might have been driving more when using, because they don’t believe they are as ‘high’ as they would be on marijuana. The reality is that it does get you high, so I think it could easily also be considered a gateway drug.”
A month before Governor Deal signed the legislation, sixteen-year-old honor student Chase Corbitt Burnett of McIntosh High School was found dead in a hot tub inside his Fayette County house after smoking Spice – a popular form of synthetic marijuana. Chase’s family teamed up with Governor Deal and other state leaders to abolish the use and distribution of synthetic marijuana.
Burnett’s father said, “It’s killing people, maiming people. It’s hurting families.”
Synthetic marijuana was sold at smoke shops and gas stations throughout Georgia. The more notorious of the brand names include K2, Blaze and Spice. Authors of the Pediatrics article wrote, “Users of synthetic marijuana are showing up in emergency rooms with symptoms that include restlessness, catatonia, extreme aggression, excessive sweating, agitation, and an inability to speak. There are other reports of hallucinations, delusions, and rapid heart beat.”
The American Association of Poison Control Centers reports 6,959 calls regarding synthetic marijuana in 2011 and 1,261 in the first two months of 2012.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vernon Keenan said, “I get more calls over the synthetic drug issue than any other crime problem.”
Keenan and agents are working to remove the substance from the stores and streets immediately. In Peachtree City, local police officers are already venturing to different gas stations and smoke shops to personally remove the substance.
“Get it off the shelves or you’re going to jail. We intend to aggressively enforce this,” Keenan said.
Synthetic Marijuana was outlawed in 2010 following dozens of emergency room reports. By making chemical alterations, makers found a loophole to get the substance back in stores.
Synthetic Marijuana is now classified as a schedule 1 narcotic. Punishment can result in two to 15 years in prison.
Senior Professional Writing major Rob Reeves commented, “It’s just a final way to feed the privatized prison industrial complex. They know it’s going to be legalized within the decade, so they want to milk the resources (cheap labor) before it’s too late.”
David Burnett said, “If our son’s mistake and tragedy can save other lives, then his life would’ve not been in vain. That’s what he would want us to do.”