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Fake Pot Gets 14 Coast Guard Cadets Expelled
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 10, 2012
Modified Jan 10, 2012
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 10, 2012
Modified Jan 10, 2012
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Even fake marijuana can get people in trouble: The U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut expelled 14 cadets for using the fake pot, Spice. Coast Guard Academy superintendent Rear Adm. Sandra L. Stosz told the Hartford Courant, "The use of synthetic marijuana is a troubling issue nationwide. As a military institution, we hold cadets to the highest standards of conduct and go to great lengths to ensure those standards are clearly understood and strictly enforced." She added that the cadets represent a range of ethnicities and backgrounds.
Last year, the FDA banned five chemicals that go into making Spice, K2, and other similar products. The agency had pointed out that there have been increased reports of seizures, hallucinations and dependency linked to the fake pot and early reports on the drug said that it causes all the negative effects of pot, including anxiety, panic, paranoia, rapid heart rate and shortness of breath, without any of the fun, calming, goofy stuff.
Eight other students are under investigation.
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coast guard academy
fake pot
k2
spice
synthetic marijuana
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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