Local Tragedy Spurs Petition Drive to Ban K-2

A friend of Bloomfield Township resident Oliver Smith has started a online petition drive to get K-2, the synthetic drug that police said the 18-year-old overdosed on over the weekend banned nationwide.

Ryan Young, currently a student at Oakland University, launched the petition drive on the White House website with the hopes of convincing President Obama and his administration to take action.

"It is imperative that synthetic cannabis be banned at once in all forms that it exists in," Young wrote in a comment to Patch Tuesday on a . "Too much tragedy surrounds its existence. Please help the families and friends of lost loved ones from synthetic cannabis use to not let their deaths be in vain and make a difference."

Smith's body along the shore of Wing Lake, located east of Franklin Road. Though police continue to investigate his death, the Oakland County Medical Examiner's office determined it was accidental, and detectives said they believe it was the direct result of using synthetic marijuana, or K-2, as it is commonly known.

The tragedy is the latest in a recent surge of incidents where authorities say K-2 has played a role. Attorneys for Sandra Layne, the 74-year-old who allegedly Jonathan Hoffman May 18, have said that Hoffman may have been under the influence when he was killed. 

The drug may also have been in the system of Tucker Cipriano when the 19-year-old Farmington Hills resident and friend Mitchell Young, 20, , killing his father Bob Cipriano.

The substance is legal and sold in convenience stores, gas stations and smoke shops as a spice similar to incense, but has hallucinogenic effects when smoked like marijuana, authorities said.

A wider problem

The number of K-2-related health emergencies apparently is rising in Michigan, according to the Children's Hospital of Michigan Poison Control Center (PCC). The PCC found the number of cases rising in Michigan, from 17 in 2010 to 224 cases in 2011. There have been 126 cases in 2012 by the end of March.

According to a letter sent to West Bloomfield High School parents signed by Police Chief Michael Patton, Maplegrove Center in West Bloomfield, which treats adolescent drug addiction, reports most of their current clients are K-2/Spice users.

The herbal essence is sold in Michigan stores as "Not for Human Consumption," according to the Greater West Bloomfield Community Coalition, and side effects include heart palpitations, respiratory issues, panic attacks, hallucinations, delusions, vomiting and increased agitation.

Police have not disclosed where Smith obtained the K-2 they believe caused his death, and said the investigation is ongoing.

The charge for change

If successful, the petition asks for the complete outlaw on synthetic cannabis products being sold at gas stations and convenience stores. Young said to that to sign up, people will have to establish an account, which is non-intrusive andrequired to validate the petition's credibility. He said it takes less than five minutes to create.

The website indicates 25,000 signatures are needed for consideration. The K-2 ban petition had 505 as of Wednesday morning.

Patch reader Michelle Weiss said she'd support the online effort and commended Young for taking a stand.

"I applaud your effort in putting together this petition in honor of Oliver and to prevent any further tragedies associated with synthetic marijuana," Weiss wrote. "I hope that we achieve the needed goal of 25,000 signatures and that something will be done."

Visitation for Smith is 2-8 p.m. today at , 1368 N. Crooks Rd. (between 14 and 15 Mile roads) in Clawson. A funeral mass is scheduled at 11 a.m. Thursday at , 6869 Franklin Rd. in Bloomfield, according to the email.

Patch local editor Tim Rath contributed to this report.