By Canadian Press

Synthetic drug causes “zombie-like” effects

Apr 22, 2019 | 10:57 AM

KAMLOOPS — Interior Health in Kamloops issued a warning about a potent synthetic substance that can cause drug users to enter a zombie-like state.

The health authority says it detected evidence of the powerful synthetic cannabinoid commonly known as K-2, spice, kronic or fake weed in recently tested street drugs.

In the story, originally printed in Kamloops This Week, the synthetic cannabinoid is linked to an episode of overdoses in Brooklyn, New York four years ago where 18 men were found in what the New England Journal of Medicine called a “zombie-like” state.

Health officials say the synthetic cannabinoid is up to 30 to 500 times more potent than T-H-C, the primary psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis.