Benson & Caride Bill to Criminalize Synthetic Marijuana Released by Assembly Committee

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Daniel R. Benson and Marlene Caride to criminalize the manufacture, sale and possession of synthetic marijuana was released Thursday by an Assembly panel.

The bill (A-2673) would add synthetic marijuana to this state’s list of controlled dangerous substances. Synthetic marijuana, marketed under such other names as Spice, K2, Blaze and Red Dawn X are manmade substances designed to mimic the effects of marijuana. These designer drugs are sold in tobacco and smoke shops, drug paraphernalia shops, convenience stores and over the Internet and often are labeled as incense or potpourri to evade law enforcement.

“The use of synthetic marijuana reportedly has been growing in popularity despite serious side effects, including violent seizures, dangerously elevated heart rates, anxiety attacks, hallucinations and in some cases death,” said Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “The number of cases of synthetic marijuana abuse as reported by poison control centers and hospitals has been increasing at an alarming rate, so let’s take this common sense step to combat it..."

To read more, please visit the New Jersey General Assembly Democratic Office Web site.

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