The Iowa Board of Pharmacy adopted emergency rules on Tuesday to ban the sale or use of the substance commonly referred to as synthetic marijuana and sold under names such as K2, Spice and Red Dragon Smoke.
 
Effective immediately upon the filing of emergency rules today, the sale or possession of K2 and similar substances is illegal in the State of Iowa.
 
In taking this action, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy temporarily amended Iowa Code section 124.301-Chapter 10 to list four synthetic cannabinoids sprayed on K2 and similar products as Schedule I Controlled Substances in Iowa. These newly banned compounds are known as: HU-211, JWH-073, JWH-018 and CP 47,497. The compound HU-210 is already banned by the federal government.
 
As stated by the Iowa Pharmacy Board, the substance in question is similar to marijuana, but can be many times more potent. Evidence of related health and safety hazards from smoking K2 are mounting. The Iowa Statewide Poison Control Center and other centers nationwide report the following effects from using K2: anxiety, panic attacks, agitation, elevated blood pressure, rapid heart rate or respiration, vomiting, hallucinations and seizures.
 
The Iowa Legislature is expected to consider taking formal action to ban K2 and similar products when it convenes next year. Until then, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy's emergency action carries the full weight of law, with violators subject to criminal prosecution.
 
Even with the emergency ban, there is a continuing need to educate Iowans about the potential dangers of these new substances. For more information on K2, go to www.iowa.gov/odcp.