Legislators across the country are cracking down on synthetic marijuana use by imposing harsh penalties. This is especially true in New Jersey, where the punishments for possession of marijuana can include serious jail time and heavy fines.

Synthetic marijuana is a lab-created herbal mixture that is extremely popular among young people in New Jersey. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, synthetic marijuana is the second-most popular drug used by high school students.

Synthetic marijuana is very similar to marijuana in that it reproduces the “high” of marijuana’s main component, THC. Synthetic marijuana is typically sold in packets that contain plant and chemical compounds, and the drug is smoked exactly like marijuana. However, the effects of synthetic marijuana are much more severe. Some of the serious side effects of synthetic marijuana use include hallucinations, seizures, accelerated heart rate, and increased blood pressure. Synthetic marijuana can also lead to long-term addiction.

Although it used to be fairly easy to find synthetic marijuana available for purchase in gas stations or over the Internet, these days many states have outlawed synthetic marijuana and other drugs of its kind. New Jersey is among the states to pass strict laws against synthetic marijuana.

Possession of synthetic marijuana in New Jersey is addressed by N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10.3a, while the distribution of synthetic marijuana is addressed by N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5.3a. The punishments for possession and/or distribution of synthetic marijuana can vary, depending on the quantity of drugs involved. If a person is convicted of second degree distribution of synthetic marijuana, he or she could face up to ten (10) years in state prison.