New Jersey Transit Police are investigating an incident that sent about seven people to University Hospital with symptoms consistent with the use of synthetic marijuana on Saturday afternoon.
EMS were called to an area close to Penn Station where they located several victims with symptoms of confusion, drowsiness and headaches to increased heart rates, and hallucination according to reports. None of the victim's conditions were consider life threatening.
According to a press release obtained from the NY Department of Health, officials said synthetic marijuana has sent 160 people to hospitals in New York state in a little over a week, a spike that prompted authorities to warn Friday that the drug is dangerous and illegal.
Over 120 emergency-room visits since April 8 linked to synthetic pot - known by "spice," ''K2," ''green giant" and other street names - have been in New York City, its Health Department said Friday. The average earlier this year was two to three synthetic marijuana-related emergency room visits per day citywide.The poison control center calls stemming from synthetic marijuana also have risen dramatically health officials said in the release.
"Synthetic drugs are anything but harmless, and this rash of severe health emergencies across the state is direct proof," officials said in a statement.
This is the second incident of this type to occur near the train station according to reports.
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