UNDATED (WKZO) - New measures outlawing the sale and possession of synthetic Marijuana took effect today.  Individual communities began banning the substances, sold in convenience stores and gas stations under names like  “K-2” and “Spice”.  Overnight it became a 7 year felony to manufacture or distribute it, and a 2 year felony to possess it.

The new laws also authorize health officials to designate any chemical variation of the drug as illegal, should manufacturers try to get around the law by reformulating the substance.

As drugs go, it was unpredictable, dangerous and led to a number of hospitalizations and a few deaths.