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Students hospitalised 'after taking synthetic marijuana drug Spice' Students hospitalised 'after taking synthetic marijuana drug Spice'
(about 4 hours later)
Five university students have been hospitalised after they apparently took a synthetic cannabis-like drug known as 'Spice'.Five university students have been hospitalised after they apparently took a synthetic cannabis-like drug known as 'Spice'.
The students are all believed to be in their first year at Lancaster University, and from the same Grizedale College townhouse.
Police officers found the students at about 6.30pm on Wednesday.
Lancaster University issued a warning about the drug on its Twitter feed after learning that the five were receiving medical treatment.Lancaster University issued a warning about the drug on its Twitter feed after learning that the five were receiving medical treatment.
Urgent message: Several students have been hospitalised today after taking legal high Spice – please check on friends and call 999 if neededUrgent message: Several students have been hospitalised today after taking legal high Spice – please check on friends and call 999 if needed
The drug was reclassified as a class B drug in 2009. It had been previously been a legal high. The drug was reclassified as a class B drug in 2009. Prior to this it was a 'legal high' and being sold in 'head shops'.
Vicky Tyrrell, a spokeswoman for Lancaster university, told The Guardian that the police had called university authorities to tell them the students had been taken to the Royal Lancaster Hospital. The charity DrugScope described Spice as a collection of herbs or plant material sprayed with synthetic cannabinoids, producing a cannabis-like effect when smoked.
"We've got five students who have been taken to hospital with a suspicion that they had taken the drug," Ms Tyrell said. "Of the five, we know that two of them are seriously ill." Side effects can include a raised pulse, dry mouth, lowering of inhibitions, dizziness, agitation and paranoia.
Spice is a synthetic cannabinoid which contains the same active chemical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), possibly leading to paranoia or a change in mood. Although banned in the UK, Spice and similar drugs can still be bought on the internet, with China and the Far East the main areas for production.
(Additional reporting by PA)(Additional reporting by PA)