The City of Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) launched a series of ad campaigns to highlight the dangers of K2. MHD partnered with Ellastic Designs to develop a comprehensive public awareness campaign after a number of hospitalizations from the use of K2 occurred throughout the City, including one death in Milwaukee County. The ads consist of billboards, buses, and bus shelters.
“K2 is marketed as a safe alternative to marijuana,” said Tiffinie Cobb, Substance Abuse and Injury Prevention Manager. “But they are not safe – they are dangerous and can have a number of powerful side effects, including death.”
The campaign was launched in various areas across the city with the message that “K2 is not better, it’s dangerous.” K2 consists of a lot different mind-altering chemicals that are made and sprayed on dried plant material or sold as liquids to be inhaled in products like e-cigarettes or other vaping devices. Since K2 consists of a number of different chemicals, it is hard for consumers to know what they are getting when buying or using this product. The most recent batch that has circulated in Milwaukee consisted of rat poison, which led to severe bleeding, bruising, hospitalizations and death.
“We are glad to partner with local design firm Ellastic Designs, LLC on this campaign,” said Tiffinie Cobb. “It is our hope that people will see these ads and think twice before buying and using K2.”
The MHD is continuing to remind residents to steer clear of synthetic marijuana, or K2. These products can be found in convenience stores, gas stations and drug paraphernalia shops. If you, or someone you know, have purchased these products, we encourage you to throw them away. If you have used K2 and are experiencing a serious reaction, call 911 immediately or go to an emergency room.
For more information on K2, visit milwaukee.gov/synthetic-weed.
- Post from Community: Democratic National Convention hosts policy roundtable discussion on gun violence in America - August 18, 2020
- Post from Community: City of Milwaukee Health Department Announces a Cooling Center Opening - July 8, 2020
- Post from Community: New National Guard North Side testing location and times - May 31, 2020
If the self-righteous members of our communities could ever learn to resist the temptation not to just live THEIR lives by their rules – instead of INSISTING that they have the ‘god-given’ right to FORCE everyone else to live by THEIR rules – we wouldnt HAVE this problem in the 1st place – because Marijuana wouldnt be illegal.
The only reason anyone would even consider buying K2 is because Marijuana was made illegal by White racists in Texas who needed a way to harass Mexican laborers… So these white bigots passed a law outlawing the Marijuana cigarettes that Mexican laborers smoked after they got off of work.
Then later still, White racist cops in New York City, NY were looking for a way to legally harass Black people (musicians in particular) in Harlem – because Rich White people’s kids who wanted to rebel against their parent’s conservative views, were going to Harlem to listen to JAZZ in Black Nightclubs, and some of their daughters would [GASP] even dance with young Black men… So, these rich White people DEMANDED that the police put a stop to this “scourge” of Black culture being popular with their White children (does this sound familiar ?)
And despite losing the so-called ‘culture wars’ Republicans & other conservative whites are STILL making sure that Marijuana is kept illegal – because it such a handy tool for putting young black men in jail &/or prison for a non-violent crime, for possessing a drug that has NEVER poisoned – let alone killed anyone.
We wont see any progress in the dangers of K2 poisoning people who are afraid of getting caught with Marijuana, and getting arrested for it – until we eliminate the out-dated, racist laws – outlawing Marijuana for ALL adults over the age of 18.
Im sorry if none of the Republicans in the Wisconsin State Legislature wants to hear that FACT – but it is nonetheless TRUE.
So, until being “RIGHT” ceases to be more important than the lives of our children & our youth – young people will continue to get arrested, and end up in Emergency Rooms – or in the Morgue – simply because some self-righteous, self-appointed, bully – wont let Marijuana be legalized.
THAT is the only way the danger that K2 represents – will ever go away – because once Marijuana is LEGAL then no one will EVER want to get K2 for FREE – let alone ever PAY for it – and once the profit is removed – K2 will be a thing of the past.