Germany expected to ban 'Spice'

BERLIN, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Germany is likely to ban the production and sale of "Spice," a newly popular drug, the federal drugs commissioner said Tuesday.

Sabine Baetzing said studies have shown a synthetic substance known as JWH-018 is used in its manufacture, Deutsche Welle reported. They have also shown the drug is more powerful than the active ingredient in marijuana and can be physically harmful to users.

"It has been confirmed that the fashion-drug Spice is, indeed, not the harmless herbal mixture its manufacturers say it is," Baetzing said. "Tests have shown that smoking the drug can cause undesirable side

affects on the heart, circulation and nervous system, in some cases leading to unconsciousness. There is also a danger of addiction."

The drug, which became popular in Europe early in 2008, has a number of names, including "Spice Silver," "Spice Gold," "Spice Diamond," "Spice Arctic Synergy" and "Spice Yukatan Fire." Austria has already banned it and other European countries are considering action.

Baetzing said Spice would be banned by decree until Parliament votes on it.