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Spice ingredients become controlled substances

  • Published
  • By Cindy Middleton
  • 17th Training Wing Legal Office
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Chemicals used to make the synthetic cannabis known as Spice or K-2 were added to the controlled substance list by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration under an emergency scheduling authority that begins 24 Dec and will span the next year.

The DEA is using its emergency scheduling authority to temporarily control five chemicals used to make 'fake pot' products commonly found in various varieties of Spice: JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-200, CP-47,497 and cannabicyclohexanol.

The DEA's authority will make it a federal crime for anyone to  sell, distribution, manufacture, possess and use these chemicals.  During the ensuing year, the DEA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will conduct studies to determine if the ban should be made permanent.

Use of Spice or any other legal substance marketed, sold or used for the primary purpose of getting "high" or altering mood or function, has been unlawful Air Force-wide since June 9, 2010, when Guidance Memorandum 44-121 was issued. Failure to comply with the prohibitions contained in this GM is a violation of Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

The Air Force has determined that the use of these substances poses serious personal risks, risks to others, risks to the mission, and can be service-discrediting and prejudicial to good order and discipline.