Crime & Safety

Police: Whiting Man Faces Charges for Possessing 'Fake Pot'

Police made the discovery after a patrolman witnessed alleged dangerous driving

A Whiting man was charged with possessing an illegal synthetic version of marijuana after police stopped him for nearly colliding head-on with another vehicle on Route 70 early Friday morning.

Ptl. Christian Nazario witnessed a vehicle driven by 25-year-old Frank Login of Camden Avenue swerve into the opposing lane of traffic on the state highway near mile marker 42 at about 3:20 a.m. on Sept. 16, according to Capt. Lisa Parker.

Nazario stopped Login and determined that he was impaired. Further investigation found that Login possessed the imitation marijuana which goes by several names including "K2" and "Spice," police said.

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Login was arrested and charged with possession of a toxic substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, for which he was released on a criminal summons, Parker said. He was also charged with DWI, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, driving an uninsured vehicle and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration used its emergency scheduling authority to control the five chemicals used in producing the "fake pot" in March, meaning that possessing and selling the chemicals is illegal, according to an agency press release.

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The ban is set for at least one year while federal agencies determine if the chemicals, which have not been approved for human consumption by the FDA, should remain under permanent control.

Drug side effects, according to the DEA, include "convulsions, anxiety attacks, dangerously elevated heart rates, increased blood pressure, vomiting and disorientation."


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