Synthetic Marijuana 'Darkness' Under Investigation After 20 People Overdosed

Twenty people overdosed on synthetic marijuana in and around the capital city of the state of Pennsylvania. The district attorney is leading an investigation to make sure this does not happen again.

Ed Marsico, District Attorney of Dauphin County said the drug users overdosed over the course of two days last week in the Harrisburg area. Doctors at the emergency room said that users had experienced advanced stages of delirium and some needed to be revived, including one that had to be transferred in the intensive care. "Don't get started on this stuff. It's just bad news," told CBS affiliate WHP.

According to Mail Online, investigators said that the synthetic pot responsible was packaged with the word 'Darkness' on it. They think that some chemicals or other substances were added to the artificial pot. Synthetic marijuana is illegal. They usually go by many names and brands like K2, Spice, Darkness, and Space. It contains man-made chemicals that stimulate the same cell receptor in the brain as THC in natural marijuana.

"You don't know what you're getting. There's no quality control. This stuff is screwing up people's brains. It's screwing up their bodies. Some of the individuals were in intensive care this weekend," said Marsico. The D.A. said users don't get these illegal substances in corner stores, but on the street like other drugs. A CDC study shows calls for synthetic cannabinoid use spiked 229 percent in 2015 versus 2014.

Researchers found that there are chances where the chemicals in synthetic marijuana can cling on to cell receptors much stronger than how THC in natural marijuana does. This can yield stronger effects like an elevated mood or feeling of relaxation. However, synthetic marijuana has also been found to have psychotic effect on some users. According to philly.com, these can include extreme anxiety, confusion, paranoia and even hallucinations.

Meanwhile, just last month, 33 people were spotted wandering around the streets of New York City like 'zombies' after taking a bad dose of K2 synthetic marijuana. Many of them collapsed on the streets and had to be rushed to the hospital by emergency medical services.