So, today Gov. Jindal banned the use of hallucinogenic bath salts. In an article from the Times-Picayune, Jindal states, “This is an epidemic.” Here are my thoughts on the introduction and use of ‘fake’ drugs. They’ve got a lot of different names, but the most common that I’ve heard are mojo, incense, pot-pourri, and K2. In my opinion it seems to be much more common here in Louisiana than was my experience in Florida. I knew some people’s brothers who smoked what they called “K2.” From what I understand, K2 offers a similar high that one receives from marijuana, but its not a controlled substance, i.e., it’s not illegal. Most of the people I knew who smoked it were either subject to drug test at their jobs or were on probation (and therefore subject to drug testing). I never spoke to an officer about it, but for all intents and purposes it seemed legal. Here in Louisiana, ‘herbal import’ stores tend to seel another form of a marijuana like smoke called mojo. Mojo again seems to someething like marijuana. The people who I’ve encountered who smoke it claim, “its some kind green leafy substance that is spray with a chemical that makes you feel high.”
Here’s a brief video on mojo from WWL: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8ijSUrl5hI] Everywhere?! WWL investigators and Casey Nunez (who is interviewed in the WWL video) claim mojo is available everywhere.
I’m writing this from a starbucks in uptown. They’re right, about one building away from me is one of the herb shops mentioned above. So, moving back to the fake bath salts mentioned above. These are something I am not familiar with. Apparently, shortly after the State of Louisiana illegalized the possession, sale, or manufacture of synthetic marijuana substances, the bath salts came on the market. The salts are in the form of potpourri (the real kind this time) and are adding to bath water. The give the bather a euphoric feeling. Just like marijuana is marketed with titles such asafghan kush or pineapple express, the bath salts bear names like ‘white dove’ or ‘cloud nine’.
After Mr. Jindal’s announcement, St. Tammany Parish District Attorney Walter Reed called the substance the most dangerous drug he has ever encountered… REALLY!? Come on, Walt, this isn’t even a real drug. There are really drugs like meth, cocain, and alcohol which cause permanent affects on the body and are nearly irreversible. I think the DA was trying to express his fear, but I know these are not the most dangerous drugs out there. Have you heard of people getting killed in the bath salt drug war? Me neither.
Here’s the problem we defense attorneys often encounter. Often times, when a client has been arrested for possession of marijuana (or possesion of a controlled dangerous substance), he or she claim that it was just incense. Well, that may be true, BUT to the police all they see is a green leafy substance with an oily texture. In other words, if it looks like, feels like, smells like marijuana…it’s probably marijuana! All the police need to search you and the area around you is reasonable suspicion. They’ve already obtained that when they saw the “looks like marijuana” substance. And moreoften the not, people who are arrested in this situation are also in possession of something else illegal, and these lead to their arrest.
In closing, I am not a supporter of any of these drugs and I do not use drugs. There are two problems I see from these drugs. First, children will use them. Thus, they will become a stepping stone to other drugs in the market, both legal and illegal. Second, should an overdose happen, doctors will be unprepared to treat the patient. Sadly, the good thing about cocaine or morphine is that we know exactly what the are. We know exactly what they do. And we know how to treat their complications. On the other hand, we don’t know much about synthetic marijuana or ‘bath salts,’ and we know less about how to treat them. In the end, it is my opinion that, until we know more about these drugs, we should avoid them. *None of the links on this site are intended to encourage illegal use of drug or synthetic drugs. For legal advice in this situation, please visit my website www.crescentcitylawfirm.com.
