FORT SILL, Okla.-- For Emeril Lagasse, spice is the thing "BAM's" are made of, but a new kind of "spice" is a recipe for disaster.
Spice, or K2, is a mixture of herbs sprayed with a synthetic compound chemically similar to THC, the psychoactive ingredients in marijuana. Until recently, Spice could be found in head shops, gas stations and smoke shops in Oklahoma marketed as incense.
The Sooner state has made Spice and similar products illegal as of Nov. 1. According to a press release from the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. Oklahoma approved legislation prohibiting the sale of synthetic marijuana products and have began conducting spot checks of stores across the state to ensure compliance with the new law.
While civilians may have used it recreationally, it's also been found inside the gates of Fort Sill.
"We've had several cases involving Soldiers possessing and consuming Spice. I would say the numbers are anywhere from 20 to maybe 30 different cases in the last year," said Detective Christopher Waters, Fort Sill Police Department.
That's a big time no-no for Soldiers as Maj. Gen. David Halverson, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general, signed general orders last April prohibiting the use of Spice. The order addresses the increase in use by Soldiers for the purpose of "inducing intoxication, excitement or stupefaction of the central nervous system."
This reaction can be pinned on the synthetic cannabinoids found in the product, such as JWH 018.
John Huffman, PhD, created the chemical compound in the mid 90's for experimental purposes and even he believes it's a bad idea for people to smoke or ingest the substance.
"It's like playing Russian roulette. You don't know what it's going to do to you," Huffman said. "You're a potential winner of a Darwin award," referring to the tongue-in-cheek awards given to people who "do a service to humanity by removing themselves from the gene pool."
The compound was tested on mice and its effects were a decrease in overall activity, analgesia, decreased body temperature and rigid muscles. While the results suggested the compound is likely to have THC-like psychoactive effects in humans, so far, those who have tried synthetic marijuana may have gotten more than they bargained for.
"The side effects are very bad if they consume too much of it they can get that sense that they're overdosing, heart rates increase and they will end up in a hospital bed," said Waters.
Recently that's where a 20-year-old Lawton man found himself. According to a police report, after trying the "fake weed" the man told his friend "he didn't feel right and never felt so high." Immediately afterward, he collapsed on the back porch of the house and began vomiting. The other man called 911 for help, and his friend was transported to Comanche County Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Waters said when the substance first came out there were a lot of cases on Fort Sill but have decreased over the last six months. He hopes to see those numbers decrease further with the lack of suppliers in Oklahoma.
Soldiers caught using the substance face punishment under Article 92, Uniform Code of Military Justice and/or administrative action, including the loss of security clearance, demotion and/or discharge from the Army.
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