Five chemicals used in creation of K2 banned by the Texas DSHS

The systematic assault on synthetic marijuana - otherwise known as K2, Salvia or Spice - has reached a new level here in the state of Texas, as the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) officially made the possession, sale, manufacture or distribution of certain chemicals used to create the substance result in serious drug charges.

Specifically, the DSHS declared just yesterday that five "synthetic cannabinoid substances" commonly found in K2 were going to be placed in Schedule I of the Texas Schedules of Controlled Substances.

The banned chemicals include:

• JWH-018
• JWH-073
• JWH-200
• CP-47,497
• Cannabicyclohexanol

Schedule I drugs are those that are defined as being unsafe, having no acceptable medical use and highly likely to be abused.

The DSHS action officially goes into effect tomorrow, and will make the possession, sale, manufacture or distribution of K2/Salvia/Spice either a Class A or Class B misdemeanor.

A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of up to $4,000 and up to a year in jail, while a Class B misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 and up to 180 days in jail.

The DSHS' action comes roughly a month and a half after the DEA exercised its emergency powers to temporarily classify the aforementioned five chemicals as Schedule I drugs under the federal Controlled Substances Act.

(In its published notice in the Federal Register, the DEA stated that the ban on the five chemicals will be in effect for a minimum of one year and may be extended an additional six months.

Under Texas law, the DSHS is required to place substances in Schedule I of the Texas Schedules of Controlled Substances following similar action by the DEA.)

For the uninitiated, K2 is essentially an herb that has been treated with a variety of chemicals and typically marketed/packaged as incense or "legal pot." It can be purchased in gas stations, head shops or via the internet.

The appeal for K2 users is that it creates a high that is similar to marijuana. However, it has also been linked to a litany of potential health issues, including elevated blood pressure, nausea/vomiting, chest pain/heart palpitations and hallucinations, among others.

Stay tuned for further developments from our Dallas criminal defense blog ...

If you or a family member has been charged with possession, distribution or any other drug charge, be certain to contact an experienced legal professional.

Related Resources:

Texas outlaws marijuana-like substances (Texas Department of State Health Services)