JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. – It is a drug said to be more powerful than marijuana and it is new challenge to law enforcement in Johnson County, Kansas. Officers said K2 is becoming the recreational drug of choice for teens and young adults.
K2 is a synthetic, yellow herb.
"People say it does the same thing as marijuana," said a college student who wanted only to be identified as Nick.
Scientists in Johnson County’s Crime Lab have not found anything illegal about K2.
"What we have found instead are what we call synthetic cannabinoids," said Jeremiah Morris of the Johnson County Crime Lab.
In other words, K2 contains the same active ingredient as marijuana. However, the synthetic cannabinoids in K2 are made in a lab and are not restricted by law.
So, K2 is packaged and sold in four varieties in three-ounce bags for $15 to $30 a piece.
"According to about 10 to 15 interviews I’ve done, it’s supposed to be more potent than most versions of marijuana," said Deputy Chris Farkes of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.
Farkes discovered K2 while investigating a narcotics case involving a juvenile suspect three months ago. He said growing numbers of teens and young adults are smoking K2. However, Farkes said it’s primarily people on probation who are trying to beat drug tests.
“This is becoming a very large problem,” Farkes said. “They are still going to get high, sometimes a better high, but it’s not going to come back on a urine analysis test.”
“I’m not into that whole drug thing at all, but people I know have talked to me about it because I guess it’s very easy to get,” Nick said.
There was a line of customers inside the only metro store selling K2 Friday night. Management declined interview requests saying they did not want any publicity.
"I can understand why," Farkes said. "It’s a large money maker."
Morris said K2 is also addictive and produces side effects similar to marijuana. It is why county law enforcement wants state restrictions.
"I myself am a parent and it’s scary to me," Farkes said.
The sheriff’s office plans to take Farkes’ interviews, evidence and research from the crime lab to state legislators to examine and consider restrictions on K2.
Meanwhile, Farkes sent a letter sharing his research on K2 with area law enforcement and school resources officers.
According to police, two Johnson County high schools, one in the Olathe district, another in the Blue Valley district, have discovered students with K2 on campus. However, both students went unpunished, because K2 remains a legal substance police said.
