Monday, February 8, 2010
The unknown long-term effects of K2 certainly raise major concerns and deserve attention. But passing an outright ban on the synthetic chemicals found in K2, an herbal mixture said to produce a marijuana-like high when smoked, was not the right step for Kansas lawmakers.
Regrettably, the Senate and the House of Representatives passed two separate bills that would do exactly that. If Gov. Mark Parkinson signs an agreed-upon version of the bill, Kansas will become the first state to establish a ban on a substance few—if any—scientific or medical experts know anything about.
According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, neither JWH-018 nor JWH-073, the psychoactive ingredients in K2, are currently monitored by any drug abuse surveys.
What’s more, no studies have been published concerning the effects of either substance on humans.
Yet, despite the glaring lack of scientific research available on K2, lawmakers and law enforcement agents were quick to declare the substance a major health concern when it started to gain attention last fall.
Douglas County Sheriff Ken McGovern has been quoted as saying that K2 was the next epidemic coming to our community. McGovern’s exaggerated and unfounded rhetoric is a remnant of the failed “War on Drugs” that many Kansas lawmakers and law enforcement officials stubbornly keep fighting.
While lawmakers in other states are decriminalizing marijuana—for both medicinal and recreational use—conservative Kansas lawmakers insist the 21st century “War on Drugs” can still be won using 20th century tactics.
Even the federal government has taken significant steps in recalibrating its approach to America’s drug problem. The Obama administration refuses to call it a “war” and has taken an increasingly progressive stance.
Simply criminalizing drugs such as the synthetic chemicals found in K2 is an outdated and disproved solution. Kansas should shift its policies to be more in line with the national trend, which focuses on public health over criminal justice and treatment over incarceration.
If nothing else, K2 deserves more research before lawmakers make rushed judgments. The drug’s effects may actually have medical benefits, as several opponents of the ban have argued.
Given the uncertainties surrounding its chemical components, K2 should not be ignored, but a premature quick fix supported by biased testimonies rather than objective facts was not the solution. Lawmakers need to consider a more proactive—and less reactive—approach.
The overwhelming support of both bills—36-1 in the Senate and 110-11 in the House—is disappointing, but not surprising. 2010 is an election year, and opponents of bills become easy targets for their political rivals. Few politicians can win re-election with the “soft on drugs” label painted on them, no matter how misleading it is.
Though the Senate and the House passed separate versions of the bill, Parkinson must sign it before it goes into effect. Students should contact their representatives and the governor’s office and encourage them to reconsider.
Even if the bill passes, Kansas lawmakers need to acknowledge that the “War on Drugs” is more than an outdated term—it’s an outdated policy.
— Michael Holtz for the Kansan Editorial Board
Bills in the Kansas Legislature could make ...
Kansas would be the first state to ban the substance.
Parkinson signs bill to ban K2
The bill could take effect as soon as next week.
Drug remains legal despite concerns
K2 mimics the high of marijuana and is available in Lawrence stores.
Updated drug evades police, law
K3 is legal, despite last year's ban on similar K2.
Thompson: Marijuana’s legal substitute
K2 gives us a glimpse of the benefits and the drawbacks of ...
New law provokes toke
Marijuana bill reaches House
Pending state legislation calls for medicinal marijuana.
Editorial: Students should support smoking ban
Smokers and nonsmokers alike should support a statewide smoking ban in public ...
English: But hemp and weed aren’t the ...
Editorial: Ban Targets Wrong Group
The ban on drug paraphernalia is detrimental to local businesses and artists, ...
Ordinance proposal would place marijuana possession on ...
City’s most-used illegal substance remains marijuana
Lawrence receives a mid-grade C+ for illegal drug use from Collegeprowler.com.
Letter to the Editor: Immigration problems fueled ...
Controlling illegal immigration should be confronted at both federal and local levels.
Students take risks trying to get a ...
Risk and dangers surround snorting bath salts, which are now classified as ...
Free: Jail not appropriate response to pot
A focus on punishment, rather than harm reduction, education, and rehabilitation, causes ...
Pair protests pot-puffing prohibition
Doctor speaks to students about medical marijuana
Proposed bill strikes up discussion of the benefits of medical marijuana.
State bill could end local smoking ban
New legislation would overturn the long-established non-smoking ordinance in Lawrence.
Carmichael: Case against the legalization of pot ...
Oddities takes a look at legalization.
Debate over marijuana tries to clear the ...
Four hundred and forty people attend SUA’s debate between the editor-in-chief of ...
Smokers feel the heat of rising price
Legislature consider tax on tobacco for revenue.
Hawk topics
News you can use
Former Attorney General Bob Stephan advocates medicinal ...
Stephan, who is diagnosed with stage four lymphocytic lymphoma, wants to allow ...
For Pain or for Party
The highs and lows of prescription painkillers and sedatives
Police and FDA raid local herbal stores
Two herbal stores in the area raided Thursday.
Equality achieved, lost as struggle continues
Court loses chance to gain equality.
Groups fights for marijuana rights
A club on campus advocates for lesser punishments for marijuana consumption.
Proposed bill would legalize medical marijuana
New bill poses another attempt for a cannabis-friendly Kansas.
Commission votes to draft ordinance
Spotlight on Organizations: NORML
KU chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws ...
Campus club touts benefits of marijuana
NORML wrapped up the semester with a film screening about medicinal marijuana.
Sacred Journey hits another bump in the ...
The store was raided last week. This time officials were after a ...
Local smokers face further restrictions
Bill mandates outdoor smokers be 10 feet away from restaurant doors and ...
Locals march against FDA raid of herb ...
Owner of The Sacred Journey tells her side of what happened in ...
Protesters say pot is safer alternative
Campus alcohol abuse stirs nationwide debate, arguing marijuana use shouldn’t be penalized.
Shorman: Smoking ban strips student rights
Banning sale of tobacco on campus is about more than blowing smoke.
House passes state-wide smoking ban bill
The vote came in Thursday in favor of banning smoking in Kansas.
Bennett: Ron Paul is the only hope
With the 2012 election less than a year away, Texas Congressman Ron ...
Thompson: Marijuana debate fails to discuss important ...
Dangers of stimulant abuse
As the abuse of stimulants rises among students, worries increase about the ...
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Editorial: Ban on K2 premature, more research needed
Obama Looks to Pump $3 Billion More Into Education, Get your share get Medical Assistant Degree from http://bit.ly/a80qrv
Editorial: Ban on K2 premature, more research needed
Legislators would be better off legalizing marijuana. If marijuana were made legal, there would not be this void that needed filled and which is being filled with unregulated chemicals which really have no research done on them. This hunt that lawmakers and law enforcement are on is one which will never come to an end. They can ban k2 incense blends all they want, but places like http://www.buyherbalincense.com offer legal everywhere herbal incense blends. People will buy k2 incense for as long as there are legal options.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID