Legal High

Believed to have originated in ancient times, incense has been around for centuries. Used by ancient peoples to ward off demons and to honor the Gods, incense has taken on a new and different use in recent years. It's now a bona fide drug – and not just any drug, it's legal.

Coined as hash alternatives, or "legal bud," incense is on the market. Labeled as "herbal blends" or "incense," various synthetic cannabinoids have gone by street names such as "K2" ,"Spice" ,"Salvia," "Pulse", "Black Magic","Voodoo" ,"Serenity Now" and "Zero Gravity." These packets can be purchased for anywhere between $15 to $20 a gram.

One might ask, how on earth can you sell a drug and not expect people to use it? The answer is simple. Vendors have found a loophole. These drugs are being sold merely as "herbal blends" or "incense." The packets contain labels that indicate to consumers the products are "not for human consumption."

Frank Janousek, program director for the Palmer Drug Abuse Program, believes things like K2 and Salvia need to be investigated. According to Janousek, "The most dangerous drug out there is the one you're not afraid to use."

It is unknown at this time what the side effects are, or whether or not these drugs are addictive because extensive research has yet to be conducted.

"Anything that changes the way an individual feels from the neck up and alters their reality and perception has the ability and the affinity to become something that they desire and crave," said Janousek.

Individuals will typically hear about these drugs through word of mouth. They will then educate themselves about the blends through forums online, and will enter the shops to buy them. Shop owners will show you where the products are located, but are not able to educate you on how to smoke them.

"I believe it has the potential to become harmful to people," said Janousek. The side effects of these herbal blends are similar to the symptoms one experiences while under the influence of marijuana.

The National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) designated "Spice" as one of the drugs to watch in their 2008 Annual Report.

These herbal blends have become popular for a number of reasons and they are widely available at many local "head shops" for affordable prices. These herbal blends do not contain THC – the active ingredient in marijuana – and will not cause the individual to fail a drug test.

This has caused a rise in popularity particularly among individuals who are on probation. Some users have claimed the blends are more potent than marijuana, but the effects do not last as long.

So exactly what herbs are in these blends? According to the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) 2008 National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) Report, "Spice" and other smoke-able incense "consist of blends of exotic herbs and other plant materials that when smoked allegedly produce euphoria."

Most incense packets contain herbs such as Damiana, Blue Lotus, Mugwort, Lion's Tail, Red Clover, Skullcap, Siberian Motherwort, molasses, and honey. The packets of the blends come in many different flavors, but are simply referred to as "scents."

Alyssa Black, a DMC Culinary Arts major, has had experience with one of these drugs, Salvia divinorum. "It's a pretty strong hallucinogen," said Black.

According to a March 2010 US Department of Justice Report, Salvia has "psychoactive effects which include visual and auditory hallucinations; psychedelic sensations including perceptions of bright lights, vivid colors and shapes; loss of physical coordination; dizziness; slurred speech; chills; nausea; decreased heart rate; uncontrolled laughter; visions; and a sense of flying or floating."

Black said she has had a number of good encounters with the drug, but not all individuals have had similar experiences. "For some [people] if they are not in the right place, it can be a very terrifying experience . . . luckily for me it was actually pretty cool."

Black shared this warning: "If you're nervous about it at all, you shouldn't do it because that's when you're going to have a bad trip."

Many states are taking steps to regulate the drug. According to the DOJ Report, Legislation has been proposed in 37 states with attempts to control the drug. Salvia and herbal blends have not yet been regulated by the federal government and are not listed under the Controlled Substances Act.

Black is opposed to making Salvia illegal. "I think that many people's and politician's views on many kinds of drugs are really old-fashioned… prohibiting a lot of the safer drugs is causing more problems than it's worth. I don't see a reason it should be made illegal if people are responsible with it."

Black feels that people need to be educated on responsible recreational drug use. She also believes that society "needs to stop viewing people who use these things as evil because we're just normal people."