Federal law will help Guam's war on Spice

by Nick Delgado

Guam - Local law already makes products like Spice and K-2 illegal on Guam.  The U.S. House and Senate have approved legislation to put controls on 26 types of chemicals that are used in synthetic cannabinoids.

The federal effort will help close up the loopholes that allow retailers to continue selling the dangerous substance in stores today.

"It seems a little too easy, coming from a former middle school teacher it seems a little too easy to get for the kids," said 'David' a former teacher. Educators on island like former him have seen first hand the impacts of students who smoke chemically based drugs such as Spice and K-2. The substances have surfaced at campuses around the island even sending one to the hospital.

Dozens of stores around the island continue to sell Spice, even though local law prohibits it. Drug Enforcement Administration resident agent in charge for Guam and the CNMI Mike Puralewski says they've increased the number of seizures in the last few months, saying, "It can be a lot more dangerous because it's using chemicals that are not tested, are not approved or anything it's just a chemical compound that will simulate that THC, that active ingredient in marijuana that gets people high."

The U.S. House and Senate recently passed legislation that expands the list of chemicals found in the incense-type products, basically making Spice and all other forms of it a schedule one controlled substance. While the measure awaits signature from President Barack Obama, Puralewski says the DEA is waging war.  "We see people that have gone to the emergency rooms, there are medical issues, and those issues are occurring here on Guam. We have seen a large spike in the sale and distribution of the synthetic cannabis," he said.

Last year alone, the American Association of Poison Control Centers reported nearly 7,000 calls relating to synthetic marijuana up from the nearly 3,000 the year before. Puralewski says two years ago, Spice was non-existent on Guam and today it's sold all over the island.

"It's important for parents to be cognizant that kids can get into prescription drugs that they leave unguarded in their house, but now there are areas where kids could just get the money and go to certain places, a head shop and pick something up that going to get them high," he said.

The DEA has several ongoing investigations into several local businesses, that they refer to as head shops, that have been caught bringing in Spice. And should President Obama sign the legislation into law, some business owners could find themselves facing federal charges.