Anchorage police say they are seeing more people involved in crimes using the drug known as Spice or K2 -- a synthetic marijuana, which police said can cause hallucinations, vomiting and high blood pressure.
APD says the 18-year-old victim of a sexual assault at Town Square Park Tuesday evening passed out after smoking Spice with her alleged attacker, before he assaulted her in front of dozens of people.
The drug became illegal in Alaska two years ago, but its popularity continues to grow.
“Spice is just turning up in all types of crimes,” said Sgt. Ken McCoy with the Special Victims Unit at APD.
The U.S. military has banned Spice, and the Municipality of Anchorage passed an ordinance in December prohibiting the drug.
Possessing up to 12 grams of spice is considered fourth-degree misconduct involving controlled substances, but there are steeper penalties for its sale or distribution.
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