Marijuana has become legal in many parts of the country due to its medical benefits, but synthetic marijuana offers a deadly counterpoint. This has once again been illustrated by a deadly vehicular rampage when the driver high on synthetic marijuana ran over numerous pedestrians in Times Square last month.
What Happened?
Richard Rojas, a 26-yeqar-old Bronx resident, reportedly drove through a busy sidewalk in Times Square during the afternoon of May 19, 2017. It was found out later that Rojas was high on K2, which is a type of synthetic marijuana. He also has a history of driving while intoxicated.
Rojas plowed through the sidewalk and hit numerous people with tragic results. One of his victims included an 18-year-old named Alyssa Elsman. She was from Michigan and was visiting the area with her family. Alyssa died of her injuries, while the incident resulted in injuries to at least 22 other people.
According to the various reports, Rojas tried to flee the scene on foot after his vehicle crashed into a pole. He was, however, quickly detained by the police with the help of onlookers. Rojas allegedly told the police that he wanted to kill all the people on the sidewalk and that he had hoped that the police would kill him as well.
Rojas was arrested and charged with multiple felonies. These include a murder charge, 5 counts of aggravated vehicular assault, and 20 counts of attempted murder. Alex Ozols, a San Diego Criminal Lawyer recently let us know that this case could result in life in prison.
What’s Wrong with synthetic drugs?
While medical authorities have become increasingly aware of the benefits of medicinal marijuana, synthetic marijuana such as K2 are still considered dangerous despite their increasing popularity with drug users. Cannabis is a plant, but K2 is the synthetic variety made in a lab. It’s designed to look like marijuana but its effects are markedly more dangerous. Users reportedly feel no pain after consuming the drug, and this can often lead to dangerous and erratic behavior.
Unlike natural cannabis, there have also been reported cases of K2 overdose. This was the very same drug that NFL player Aaron Hernandez smoked while in prison before he committed suicide. The investigation into the athlete’s death indicated that the use of the K2 led to a delusional state that caused the star player to kill himself.
This dangerous drug can cause several severe side effects. These can include hallucinations, confusion, and agitation. Users may experience a racing heartbeat and palpitations, along with failure of the heart or kidney.
How can a Lawyer Help?
What adds to the dangerous nature of the drug is that it is becoming much more available to the public. People must be made more aware of how this dangerous drug is.
If you or a loved one has been hurt by a driver who was under the influence of synthetic marijuana, get in touch with our drug crimes lawyers in San Diego so you can consult about your case. Our lawyers have extensive experience with drug crimes cases, and you can file a case against the driver in order to receive just compensation. Keep in mind that you will need that money to pay for expensive medical treatments for any resulting injuries.
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