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Effective March 1, the Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Agency has issued a final order temporarily placing five synthetic cannabinoids into the Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Among these drugs is JWH-018, more commonly known as Spice, which first came into the public eye in 2008, according to the DEA. The placement makes the substance completely illegal for at least one year and the ban can be extended by the Attorney General for up to six additional months.
The U.S. joins other countries including Britain, Germany, France, the Republic of Korea and Russia in banning Spice. The emergency scheduling by the DEA also reinforces the stance the Marine Corps has taken since 2010, when Marine Forces Pacific Order 5355.2 was issued. The order specifically targets synthetic cannabinoids and prohibits the actual or attempted possession, use, sale, distribution or manufacturing of Spice, or any derivative thereof.
“We share with our military partners their concern regarding the public health hazards of Spice for young adults, especially those in uniform,” said Barbara Carreno, a DEA spokesperson. “It is our mission to protect the public in the area of controlled substances.”
DEA officials moved to ban Spice due to the alarming number of calls received by poison control centers and emergency room visits regarding the negative effects of the drug, she added.
According to the DEA’s final order, numerous public health departments and poison control centers have issued health warnings describing the adverse effects associated with synthetic cannabinoids. Adverse effects include agitation, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, body tremors, seizures, hallucinations, paranoid behavior and non-responsiveness. In addition to these side effects, users may also become dependent, experience addictive behaviors and psychotic episodes or go through withdrawals.
In an effort to combat drugs among first-term Marines, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing has started a marketing campaign against drug use with a specific focus on the recent surge in Spice usage.
“Our campaign works to empower our young Marines to stand up for what is right without the risk of being shunned by their peers,” said 1st Lt. Patrick McElroy, 1st MAW substance abuse control officer. “We are hoping to get a hotline put in place that can be accessed through the Marine Corps Base Camp Butler website where (Marines) can report any observation of illicit drug use.”
Until recently, synthetic cannabinoids were untraceable in the urinalysis tests conducted by the U.S. military. However, this has changed and it is now possible to test positive on a urinalysis for use of synthetic cannabinoids.
“As of this month, five ingredients commonly found in Spice are detectable through urinalysis testing,” said David Ralston, the Marine Corps drug demand reduction coordinator. “We expect this to bolster prevention efforts and help law enforcement to be more effective when investigating these incidents.”
In addition to the new testing, the ban increases the consequences of Spice usage since a service member would be charged under Article 112 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice: wrongful use, possession, etc., of controlled substances, instead of Article 92: failure to obey order or regulation.
“Article 112 of the UCMJ mandates administrative separation from the Marine Corps,” said Staff Sgt. Wilson Patterson, battalion legal chief for Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Base, Camp Butler. “After the (non-judicial punishment) by the commanding officer, legal would start a separation package on the Marine.”
Administrative separation under Article 112 requires that the discharge is considered other than honorable.
“With an other than honorable discharge, the member loses all benefits regardless of time served,” Patterson added.
| Date Taken: | 03.18.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.17.2011 20:56 |
| Story ID: | 67230 |
| Location: | CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 258 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, DEA follows military lead, Spice now banned, by Sgt Heather Brewer, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
