Emergency ban extended on chemicals used in drugs that mimic pot

By Carol Cratty, CNN

updated 8:41 PM EST, Wed February 29, 2012

The DEA extended another six months its ban on five chemicals used to make synthetic drugs such as Spice.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Washington (CNN) -- The Drug Enforcement Administration is extending for another six months its emergency ban on five chemicals used to make synthetic drugs such as Spice, the DEA announced on Wednesday.

The DEA already had banned the substances for a year, but with that period soon to expire, the DEA announced it will file a notice in the Federal Register on Thursday that will mean the chemicals will continue to be illegal.

The substances used to make the fake pot products are: JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-200, CP-47,497 (that's all one chemical CP-47,497) and cannabicyclohexanol. The names sound like an alphabetical and numerical soup. But the drugs are marketed as herbal incense under such names as K2, Blaze, Spice and Red X Dawn and have been popular with teenagers and young adults.

The DEA says the products are made of plant material coated with chemicals that claim to mimic THC, the key ingredient in marijuana.

The DEA's emergency action means the chemicals are designated as Schedule 1 substances, the most restrictive category of drugs under the Controlled Substances Act.

"Schedule 1 substances are reserved for those substances with a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States and a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug under medical supervision," according to a DEA press release.

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Emergency ban extended on chemicals used in drugs that mimic pot