Mansfield Bans Legal Drug K2

“Don’t shop Shell!” Don’t shop Shell!” “Shame on Shell!” “Don’t shop Shell.”

The protester’s posters were covered with pictures of square packages of K2 and red lines slashed through them. The Mansfield police parked across the street, from Marley’z hookah lounge and smoke shop, keep an eye on the protesters and the news stations crowding around the protesters and those against the protesters including freshman Tristan McDonald.

“I think that (the protests) were stupid because Marlye’z went out of business,”a  freshman said.

As a result from the protests, and a city council decision, stores cannot sell K2 and drug paraphernalia within 1,000 feet from a school, church, daycare, park or library, causing Marlyez to close because of the proximity to Alice Ponder Elementary School, Legacy and surrounding churches.

“I think it’s too strict,” another student said. “You should be 18 or older, of course, and whether it is near a church or school shouldn’t matter as long as it’s not in the same building.”

K2 is a legal chemically sprayed incense invented in 1995, made in Asia, and smoked by some as an alternative to Marijuana.

“I think it’s stupid,” a Legacy sophomore said. “I think someone so desperate to get high that they smoke something not for human consumption is stupid.”

When someone smokes K2, it can sometimes cause intense highs and hallucinations. In other cases it can cause a high similar to marijuana, the high K2 is suppose to mimic.

“K2 is not natural, do you see a K2 plant?” one senior said. “That stuff is bad for you.”

An age restriction of 21 is in place to buy the incense in Mansfield was put in place this past summer.

“I think if your old enough to buy cigarettes your old enough to smoke K2,” he said.

Availability of K2 in stores and relationships with older buyers taunts students to try K2.

“I think it could become a problem because it is available to buy in a store,” Assistant Principal Kim Murphree said. “It’s readily available.”

Students have different views of K2 and those who have tried have had different experiences.  With K2 it is difficult to know how it would affect students.

“I would never try it.  Not in a million years,” a junior said.  “My sister tried it and became horribly sick and dizzy, she told me it was not worth it.”