Prohibition: Kansas Politician Hears of New Drug, Responds with Plan to Ban It
An herbal preparation containing synthetic cannabinoids has show up in Kansas, and a prohibitionist Kansas politician has a reflex response: Ban it. The preparation, sold under the name K-2 is available over the Internet and at selected shops in the Kansas City and Lawrence areas.
K-2 is one of a number of compounds that have appeared on the market in the past couple of years containing synthetic cannabinoids. Another popular compound containing the synthetic cannabinoids is sold under the name Spice. According to Clemson University chemistry professor John Huffman, at least one of those synthetic cannabinoids, JWH-018, was created by one of his graduate students doing pharmaceutical research.
Who manufactures K-2, Spice, and similar products is unclear, as is where they are coming from.
Spice has already been banned by a number of European countries, including Britain, France, Germany, Poland, and Russia, as well as South Korea. While Spice, K-2, and other products containing synthetic cannabinoids are not listed as controlled substances in the US, there is some debate about whether they fall under the Controlled Substances Act's provisions banning analogues of controlled substances.
Kansas state Rep. Peggy Mast (R-Emporia) had never heard of K-2 before being approached by a local newspaper reporting on the phenomenon last week, but that didn't stop here from being ready to criminalize it. "I would be very happy to sponsor a bill to make this illegal," she said.
In an interview this week, Mast elaborated. Little is known about K-2, she said. It's dangerous, she added, without explaining how she knows it is dangerous given that little is known about it. "And that makes it potentially dangerous," said Mast. "I'm really concerned about the effect it can have on young people."
If there's one thing Mast does know, it's what to do when confronted with a substance about which you know little: Ban it. Mast sponsored successful legislation to do just that with jimson weed and salvia divinorum a few years ago. "I don't think the public should have ready access to anything that has not been studied," Mast said.
But until Mast gets around to introducing and passing a bill, K-2 remains legal in Kansas. And places like Sacred Journeys in Lawrence are selling it.
"A lot of people get a marijuana-like buzz when you smoke it, and that seems to be why a lot of people are afraid of it and attack it," said Rob Bussinger, a consultant at Sacred Journey. "We have teachers that come in and buy it, we have police officers that come in and buy it, military people who buy it," said Bussinger.
For chemist Huffman, banning new substances is a futile pursuit. "You ban one and they'll come up with another," he said.
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Kansas state Rep. Peggy Mast (R-Emporia) CONTACT INFO
Comment posted by Right Reverend Gregory Karl Davis on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 3:52pmYour comments in this section can be copied to:
Peggy Mast
Kansas House Republican
District 76 (District Map,District Demographics)
First Term: 1997
Assistant Majority Leader
At:
765 Road 110
Emporia 66801
Phone: 620-343-2465
Email: pmast@ink.org
Fax: 620-343-1559
Business Information
Occupation: Office Manager
pmast@ink.org
Spouse: John
Capitol Office
Room: DSOB
Phone: 785-296-7685
Email: peggy.mast@house.ks.gov
Committee Membership
Appropriations
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Room: 143-N
Health and Human Services
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Room: DSOB 784
Chair, Social Services Budget
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Room: DSOB 786
Calendar and Printing
Time: On Call
Interstate Cooperation
Time: On Call
Legislative Budget
Time: On Call
Joint Committee on Health Policy Oversight
Time: On Call
Joint Committee on Legislative Post Audit
Time: On Call
Joint Committee on Home and Community Based Services Oversight
Time: On Call
Thank you
Comment posted by Jean Boyd on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 5:23pmRight Reverend Davis. I wanted to say it to her. I am on it now.
What We Have Here is a Failure to Communicate
Comment posted by Jean Boyd on Sat, 11/21/2009 - 2:59pmjean boyd wrote:
The following is a comment posted at Drug Policy Alliance.org. The drug policy has posted an article about you and your views and recent actions in Kansas. Check it out. People all over the world will comment about how you want to lock people up for taking drugs. Man, you gotta get your way at the expense of everyone else.
Please understand that I merely speak for myself, I am only a member of DPA. Some people think way worse of you for your bad choices. I am only asking you to think. You will never be remembered by your bad actions. The world remembers people who stand up for what is right. Most people who stand up for truth reap the rewards. Worth way more than your paycheck. And you will still get the paycheck.
Rep. Peggy Mast wrote:
Thanks Jean,
You have made a very good point. It seems odd that you accuse me of bad actions because I want to keep kids from becoming future addicts. I guess it just depends on where you are seated. I had the opportunity of watching a beautiful young woman die a paranoid death because of meth. I had the opportunity of talking to a young girl who's cousin was being brought up on capitol murder charges for shooting and killing a friend and cousin of his who happened to be a sheriff because he made the mistake of coming at the wrong time when Scott was too high on drugs. She was trying to get me to keep her cousin Scott from death row.
It is funny to me that I am a bad person because I care about people and these kind of thing bother me, but you are right. There will always be those very smart people who can make a quick buck and get kids addicted for life. They beat the system and they think the rest of us are evil. You go Jean. Hope you live a long and happy life. I have had some users of K2 communicating with me. They are honest to me about their lives. I like them. I don't want them locked up. I understand what they are going through and appreciate getting to know them. They, unlike you, are not judging me anymore than I am judging them. They also understand that I care. I'm not looking for glory or a paycheck. If I wanted fast easy money, I could be a pusher. The difference is - I have a conscience.
Sincerely,
Peggy
Dear Peggy Mast
Comment posted by Jean Boyd on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 3:10pmI wish to thank you for returning my email to you.
I heard you say that I think you are bad. No, I do not think that. I simply said that you are making bad choices.
You said that you do not wish to put people in prisons, however, the policy you are condoning is doing just that.
We are in PROHIBITION. Ending prohibition is the answer. We at Drug Policy are teachers, students, cops, addicts, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children, lawyers, doctors and human beings who believe that current policies are damaging and actually causing the deaths and overdoses you speak of.
I am offering you some light on this issue that involves every aspect of life in the US. The US affects every country in the world.
I am asking you to please just look at what we are saying and doing at Drug Policy Alliance. You can reach Drug Policy on the computer. Most of us thought as you do at some point, until it took a great awakening, many times a horrible event to get us to wake up. Look at L.E.A.P. These guys were cops and now even they are saying the WAR ON DRUGS is a vast mistake. If a cop can turn around anyone can.
Sincerely,
Jean L. Boyd
Prohibition Creates More Drugs
Comment posted by Jean Boyd on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 3:47pmWhen will people like Rep. Peggy Mast get it. I am so tired of these reactions that take little or no use of one's brain. Just go along with the program and do not think. Can you not see, Peg, that what you are doing by banning this spice or K-2 is only encouraging real people to come up with something else that we can say is legal. As chemist Huffman states, "You ban one and they'll come up with another." Go home and think about it. I've been seeing it for 40 years and you can't see what is in front of you.