The dangers of smoking K2 or "Spice" -- a controversial product easily found in party stores and gas stations -- was highlighted once again over the weekend when an 18-year-old man died on a private beach in Bloomfield Township.
The Oakland Press reported Tuesday that police believe that Oliver Satchel Smith of Bloomfield Township died on the beach at Walnut Lake and Franklin roads from a "direct result" of smoking K2 -- a plant and chemical product that produces a marijuana-like high.
The paper reported that Smith was found around 11:20 a.m. He was unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene.
“Mr. Smith died of an apparent drug overdose,” a Bloomfield Township Police press release said. “Information gathered at the scene led investigators to believe that Mr. Smith died as a direct result of smoking herbal incense which is more commonly referred to as K2 or Spice.”
The drug has been popping up in the press lately as state lawmakers struggle to ban the product.
In the high profile case involving Tucker Cipriano, accused of trying to kill his entire Farmington Hills family, court testimony surfaced that the teen had been smoking Spice.
Spice, which is sold under a variety of names K2, fake weed, Yucatan Fire, Skunk, Moon Rocks -- is often marketed as a safe alternative to marijuana.
There have been nationwide efforts to ban the product.
Read Deadline Detroit Columnist Sandra Svoboda on the subject.
