herbal medicine schools

herbal medicine schools - legality New herbal substance in JP ; In large letters, POW Reloaded, a "botanical sachet," is advertised across a storefront on Veterans Boulevard in Metairie. It's the Rob Shop's newest location. Another location, on West Metairie Avenue, has the same display.

It's raising questions about how POW works and whether it's legal. Law enforcement officials said the name has been used for synthetic marijuana, a powerful substance that can send users to the emergency room.


"It's certainly much much more dangerous than the natural form, I mean we never see people coming in for a marijuana overdose, but we see all sorts for this synthetic marijuana," said Dr. Brian Dehart, emergency room physic an at West Jefferson Medical Center.

Two West Jefferson High School students were hospitalized Thursday after smoking synthetic marijuana in a parking area near the school, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. Officials said one teen was found vomiting, and the other was passed out.

"I'm thinking those young kids probably weren't used to doing anything like that and it just overwhelmed them," said Dehart.

That instance has not been linked directly to POW. The Rob Shop's Facebook page claims the botanical sachets are DEA compliant. Off camera, employees said the substance is legal but not meant for human consumption. Instead, they said, it's meant to be used as potpourri because it has a pleasant smell. Still, employees refused to let Eyewitness News buy a sachet.

The owner of the Rob Shop refused an interview. Employees locked the doors of both Metairie stores after Eyewitness News arrived outside.

"These clients appear to be conscientious in their efforts not to break the law," said Ben Bagert, an attorney for the Rob Shop. "They've taken steps to engage reputable chemists with formidable resumes from renowned universities... to make sure what they're selling isn't illegal."

Bagert did not say which chemists were tasked with testing the substances.

Troy Hebert, head of the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, said it's impossible to know whether over the counter herbs are illegal without proper testing.

Now that legislature has outlawed forms of synthetic marijuana, authorities are cracking down. The ATC suspended liquor licenses of four convenience stores selling substances that tested positive for synthetic marijuana at the state crime lab last month in the Baton Rouge area, said Hebert. And the statewide investigation continues.

According to Hebert, The "high" from synthetic marijuana often comes from chemicals sprayed onto potpourri. Hebert said it can take 30 to 60 days to receive test results from the state crime lab, because there is a back log.