More than 160 People Hospitalized in New York due to rise in Synthetic Marijuana Use

Since early April, over 160 people have been admitted to hospitals in New York because of a spike in synthetic marijuana use across the state. A warning has been given that it is dangerous and illegal.

According to officials, 120 of the emergency room visits happened in the city between April 8-15 and it's a rise from the average of about 20 per week. Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office said that poison control center calls stemming from synthetic marijuana have increased radically statewide.

"Synthetic drugs are anything but harmless, and this rash of severe health emergencies is direct proof", said Governor Cuomo.

Other states also have concerns related to this. According to Alabama public health officials, about 100 people had been sent to hospitals for problems associated to synthetic marijuana within the past month.

Police in Hampton, Virginia, notified that one person died and two others were hospitalized because of synthetic marijuana overdoses last weekend. In February, a letter was signed by more than 40 state attorneys general asking oil companies to ensure that gas station convenience stores don't sell synthetic drugs.

Reminders to stores have also been issued by the Health Department in New York City that it's against the law to sell synthetic marijuana. According to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, it has been estimated that more than 28,500 people visited emergency rooms nationwide in 2011 after taking the drug.

New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett said that there is no way to know exactly what synthetic marijuana contains. A similar warning has been issued by Bassett last summer when 15 people went to E. R. s with bad reactions to the drug in four days. According to the Health Department, majority of the drug users comprises teens and young adults.