PINEVILLE — At least two students in Wyoming County have been hospitalized as a result of using a synthetic form of marijuana being sold in a few businesses, according to Rick Staton, county prosecuting attorney.

Staton is cautioning students and their parents about the dangerous potential of this powerful substance.

The potent synthetic marijuana is “being marketed as an incense,” Staton explained.

“Marketed by various names such as K2 and Spice, the synthetic marijuana is undetectable in standard drug tests,” he noted.

“These herbal products were developed during medical research in the mid 1990s.  Research shows the product has no medical benefits, but the side effects can be significantly worse than the effects of marijuana use.

“(Users) get higher much quicker, lose their depth perception much quicker than with marijuana,” Staton emphasized.

Some of the businesses are also selling the drug paraphernalia to “smoke” the marijuana synthetic, Staton said.

He is looking for ways to prosecute those selling the products.

Staton called upon county businesses to stop selling the products and paraphernalia.

“Businesses have a responsibility to our community, and to help protect our young people from harm.

“We will look closely at businesses selling drug paraphernalia, particularly in conjunction with the sale of synthetic marijuana,” Staton said.

“While we can’t stop them from selling the products, we will aggressively prosecute cases where businesses have crossed the line.

“The products have been found to contain a psychoactive chemical similar to the active ingredient in marijuana,” Staton explained.

“The herbal product is as, or in some cases, more potent than marijuana.

“This gives it the same or worse effects: dizziness, vomiting, seizures, and loss of breathing and consciousness.

“This is a very dangerous product,” the prosecutor emphasized. “Parents and students alike need to be aware it is not harmless.

“We have already had reports of persons being taken to the emergency room for drastic effects of the use of this drug.”

One student was reported to have remained unconscious for more than five hours from use of the product, Staton said.

Staton and other prosecutors have already contacted state legislators about prohibiting the sale and use of the product. Kentucky and other states recently enacted similar legislation.

“I’m encouraged our (state) Legislature will act quickly, but it’s not a substitute for parent and personal responsibility,” he said.

In other counties in Southern West Virginia, police officials confirm that no health issues involving this herbal substance have yet been reported. Spokespersons for the Summers and Greenbrier sheriff’s departments said that “It has not become a problem in our county yet.”

Members of Raleigh and Fayette County Drug Task Forces have not taken any action regarding the legal, though harmful substance.

Tom Truman, chief deputy prosecutor for Raleigh County, stated that “though we have not prosecuted stores or heard about local hospitalizations, I think the potential is there for this to be a major issue. If this stuff is not being used in Raleigh, it is at least being talked about in the schools. If you tap into their Facebook accounts, there is a lot of chatter about it.”

Reporter Sarah Plummer contributed to this story.

— E-mail: mcbrooks@register-herald.com