E-Cigarettes Being Used For Drugs Alarming Trend - WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's Choice

E-Cigarettes Being Used For Drugs Alarming Trend

WMDT 47 NEWS -- Electronic Cigarettes are a growing trend among smokers, but officials are sounding the alarm. They are serving a second purpose for some, and it's causing quite the headache for those trying to crack down on drug use.

"Part of the problem is it's very difficult to detect," Jennifer Berkman, director of student health services at Salisbury UNiversity , tells us.

It's the latest trend hitting the drug scene, electronic cigarettes being used to smoke marijuana. It's odorless, hard to detect, and instructions on how to use it are all over the Internet.

"We know people are taking regular marijuana hash and using a solvent basically to clandestinely manufacture this drug. It's very potent," Berkman says.

The mini-vaporizer can use liquid THC, hash oil, or cannabis in it's whole form, which can be even more debilitating. Police say that the biggest problem with the E-cannibas- cigarette is that because they are so small and odorless, people will abuse it then get behind the wheel.

"Especially when they're smoking something like this their reactions are slowed, their driving ability is hampered, so that is a really big concern for us," Lt. Tim Robinson, with the Wicomico County Sheriff's Department, tells us.

Police are having trouble keeping up, because it's so easily disguised. While no cases have been on their radar, it does not mean we're out of the woods here on the Eastern Shore.

"Where there's a will there's a way, and when people start learning about this we're sure they are going to show up eventually," Lt. Robinson says.

According to the Wicomico County Narcotics Task Force, if someone is found to be showing signs of being under the influence, they will be tested and possibly charged with possession of marijuana.

Officials say it's important for parents to talk about the dangers of the E-cigarette with your kids.