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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Cracking down on fake pot, the government began emergency action Wednesday to outlaw five chemicals used in herbal blends to make synthetic marijuana. They're sold in drug paraphernalia shops and on the Internet to a burgeoning market of teens and young adults....   >>>

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Cracking down on fake pot, the government began emergency action Wednesday to outlaw five chemicals used in herbal blends to make synthetic marijuana. They're sold in drug paraphernalia shops and on the Internet to a burgeoning market of teens and young adults.



The Drug Enforcement Administration responded to the latest designer drug fad by launching a 30-day process to put the chemicals in the same drug category as heroin and cocaine. The agency acted after receiving increasing numbers of reports of seizures, hallucinations and dependency from poison centers, hospitals and law enforcement.



It was the fastest action the agency could take to get the products off the legal market. DEA spokeswoman Barbara Carreno said makers of fake pot blends such as "Spice," "K2," "Blaze" and "Red X Dawn" labeled the mixtures as incense to try to hide the intended purpose.