Governor Cuomo has decided to expand regulations banning synthetic marijuana-like products, following an apparent uptick in hospitalizations from so-called fake weed.
According to a press release from Cuomo's office, the governor wants to add two new classes of compounds to the list of substances that were banned in 2012, when the state first decided to crack down on synthetic marijuana. Then, the state went up against any substance capable of the psychoactive effects of marijuana, but manufacturers have apparently managed to find the aforementioned chemical compounds, which mimic cannabis-like products and bath salts.
The state says a large number of New Yorkers have been hospitalized after smoking synthetic marijuana this year, and from April to June, officials say over 1,900 people have made fake weed-related emergency room visits. Though there's little-to-no chance smoking regular marijuana will send you to the hospital, it's hard to know what chemicals synthetic marijuana contains, which is how people get sick. Officials caution against these drugs, which are often sold as incense or potpourri—they're known by street names like Spice, K2, Green Giant, Smacked, Wicked X, AK-47, Geeked Up, Ninja, and Red Giant.
You can peruse the full list of proposed regulations here [pdf].
