Waukesha police nab synthetic pot from 4 stores
Waukesha - Police confiscated about $7,000 in synthetic marijuana from four retail outlets Monday after two teenagers showed up at Waukesha Memorial Hospital with adverse reactions to the product.
The substance, a blend of herbs and chemicals that mimics the effects of marijuana when smoked, is marketed under brand names such as K2, Cloud 9, Genie and Spice and often marked as incense.
It's sold in 3-gram packs for up to $45.
Its effects have also been linked to harmful side effects, including increased heart rate and blood pressure, vomiting, tremors, seizures and extreme anxiety.
Sold legally in some areas, its sale is banned in Waukesha, where police said the two teenagers showed adverse reactions to a synthetic chemical found in a product called Purple Magic.
Police confiscated the synthetic marijuana from Discfunction, 910 W. Sunset Drive; a Mobile station at 401 E. North St.; SF&S Petroleum, 114 E. Broadway St. and Grand Avenue Citgo 304 N. Grand Ave., according to a news release from Waukesha police.
Numerous communities in the Milwaukee area have enacted ordinances on synthetic marijuana similar to Waukesha's, which includes fines of up to $1,000 for possessing or distributing the product. Police said Monday they do not plan to refer charges under state statutes in these incidents but will pursue felony charges if synthetic marijuana is found on the stores' shelves again.
