Bronx Sen. Jeff Klein on Wednesday called for a crackdown on synthetic drugs like K2, calling the availability of the chemicals “an epidemic in our state.”
Klein, the leader of the five-member Independent Democratic Conference, also introduced legislation that’s designed to limit the sale of synthetic marijuana and criminalize K2.
The bill would add “synthetic cannabinoids” to current crimes like selling marijuana under the penal law. The legislation would also provide five different degrees of charges for criminal sale, including class “B” misdemeanor charges to “c” felony, depending on the weight of the drugs being sold.
“The Bronx is becoming the K2 capital of New York City. Synthetic marijuana is dangerous and poses a very real public health threat to New Yorkers, their families and children. At least ten patients a week are rushed through the emergency room at Jacobi Hospital displaying frightening, erratic behavior associated with K2 use,” Klein said in a statement. “I’m introducing legislation to keep ahead of the chemists’ curve and criminalize all analogous chemicals put into these colorful K2 packets.”
Klein says local bodegas continue to sell drugs like K2, with one “undercover” purchase made by his office revealing that the owner hides K2 and other synthetic pot brands under the counter.
The bill comes after state officials made to expand the state’s ban on synthetic marijuana by adding a new chemical compound that has been found to be selling in retail locations.
The emergency regulations were called for after state officials saw a spike in hospital visits between June and August related to the drugs.