The Los Angeles City Council Friday unanimously approved an emergency motion regarding the use of synthetic marijuana after dozens of people have been treated on Skid Row for symptoms linked to its use, officials said.
The motion, filed by Councilmembers Mitchell Englander and Jose Huizar, broadens the language to an existing ordinance on the drug so officials can prosecute manufacturers and distributors.
“Spice” as it is called, has become more popular in recent years and most likely caused the recent overdose reports in downtown Los Angeles, county health officials said earlier this week.
Spice is sprayed onto plant material and smoked like a cigarette or marijuana and it can cause severe side effects like altered mental status, loss of consciousness, extreme anxiety and agitation.
The Los Angeles Fire Department’s medical director said the drug was “becoming a public health crisis” that has affected emergency services downtown and at area hospitals.
Thirty-eight people were treated Aug. 19 after apparently overdosing on spice on Skid Row, the Los Angeles Times reported.
On Monday, 14 people were hospitalized after having similar symptoms to those treated three days earlier, officials said.
In April, 15 people were hospitalized after ingesting spice, the Times reported.
City and county officials, along with local law enforcement agencies and community leaders met Wednesday to discuss the issue, according to the Times.
“This is happening everywhere, this is being sold on high school campuses, this is being brought to parties, this is too simple to get a hold of and people are taking advantage of others,” Englander said.