WASHINGTON — More than 100 drug overdose patients have been transported to emergency rooms in the past four days, likely caused by a “bad batch” of synthetic marijuana, according to DC Fire and EMS Chief Gregory Dean.
“If you see people that are falling down, collapsing, unconscious, vomiting, call 911,” Dean told NBC Washington. “Allow us to come and assist them.” Dean urged that those patients need to get to the hospital.
Synthetic cannabis — often called K2, or Spice — is inexpensive on the streets, and illegal in D.C.
Police have not disclosed where they believe the “bad batch” of K2 originated.
The overdoses have occurred in all quadrants of the District.
Mayor Muriel Bowser signed a law in 2015 that allows police and the government to take stronger actions against businesses caught selling synthetic drugs.
Dean said D.C. police and fire officials, as well as the Department of Behavioral Health and the Department of Health and Human Services are working to address the problem.
