On Friday, Aug. 27 the state of Mississippi banned a synthetic marijuana substance, more commonly known as ‘Spice,’ ‘K2,’ ‘Genie,’ ‘Demon’ or ‘Voodoo.’ The substance was previously sold as potpourri or herbal incense and was easily accessible for purchase.
While these synthetic products were usually labeled “Not for human consumption,” their ingredients could be mixed to create a drug that some authorities consider even more concentrated and dangerous than pure marijuana. Mississippi follows the lead of ten other states in banning ‘Spice,’ and the new law has been passed and will be implemented statewide after Gov. Haley Barbour signs it.
On the campus of Mississippi State University, students have strong opinions about the new law and its potential ramifications.
Junior elementary education major Rachael Smith said she supports the recent ruling.
“I’m in favor of outlawing anything that endangers the general welfare,” she said.
Smith said she believes the law won’t affect the MSU campus directly and will primarily hurt the convenience stores that sold the products. Drivers could be put at risk by other drivers who use ‘Spice or marijuana, Smith said.
Nathan Flippo, sophomore geology major, said he thinks the ban is reasonable.
“If it affects someone else directly, yes, go ahead and ban it,” he said of synthetic marijuana.
Flippo said the product might change now it is illegal. If it were fairly popular, then it would probably bring more business to people selling it now.
“It depends on the price. Some people aren’t willing to pay,” he said.
Freshman English and philosophy major Field Brown said it is an issue of consistency in enforcing the rules against illegal substances.
“If we are going to be consistent with our stance on marijuana, then it seems like it would only make sense to outlaw this,” he said.
Brown also said this will now be one more thing campus police have to search for.
“It’s a tough battle [containing drug use] to fight,” Brown said. “And the fact that this stuff doesn’t directly harm other people will always make it an intriguing debate.”
Dr. Robert K. Collins, Director of University Health Services, said he supports the new ruling.
“I think it’s a good thing to do,” he said.
Collins said one health aspect of marijuana use that no one seems to discuss is the fact that one joint equals one pack of cigarettes.
He also said there is a generational difference in college drug use from decades ago to the present day. Back in the ’60s, drug experimentation was just as prevalent, but the last thing a user would do is seek medical attention for a bad trip, he said. Collins also pointed out in the ’60s, drug use was a felony and not a misdemeanor like it is today.
“I have not seen anything I would attribute to this and I have rarely seen people using marijuana,” he said.
Collins also said there are legal problems that accompany this issue.
“Spice is a form of designer drug in that the legal systems can’t put out laws fast enough to stop it,” Collins said of dealers’ attempts to bypass the law. “That makes it a challenge.”
So while Collins said there are no cases of Spice use on campus yet, he is aware of its dangers and is prepared to treat it.
“If I see it, I figure I’ll see it in an asthmatic having an allergic reaction,” he said.