ANCHORAGE, Alaska—
Two Anchorage Assembly members are calling on local retailers to remove a product from store shelves, even though the product is legal.Mike Gutierrez and Paul Honeman say a growing number of Alaska teens and adults are using what they call a dangerous substance, synthetic marijuana.
Most commonly known as K2, Spike or Spice, the packages claim the products contain a 100 percent natural blend.
But drug authorities say it is treated with synthetic cannabinoids, similar to THC found in marijuana.
Some local tobacco shops and convenience stores are selling the unregulated synthetic substances.
Drug authorities say the products can cause serious side effects like panic attacks, heart palpitations and hallucinations.
Gutierrez says he hopes businesses will choose to protect customers, before they are forced to do so.
A ban is coming, at the state level it's being worked on. At the local level it's being worked on, but between now and then we're asking people pull these products off the shelves and stop selling them,” said Gutierrez.
State Sen. Kevin Meyer has pre-filed a bill that would add these synthetic substances to the controlled substances list.
Ten other states have already passed legislation making synthetic marijuana illegal.
