Synthetic Marijuana

 Search, seizure and investigations into the possession and sale of various forms of "synthetic marijuana" by law enforcement agencies in Kansas have been in the news of late giving rise to questions about synthetic marijuana.

Below are links to information on synthetic marijuana from various government websites as well as an article from a Kansas newspaper:

Synthetic pot cases increase
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/aug/09/synthetic-pot-cases-increase/
Lawrence Journal World article - August 9, 2012

DrugFacts: Spice (Synthetic Marijuana)
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/spice-synthetic-marijuana
(from the National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Synthetic Marijuana
http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/law-enforcement-bulletin/may-2012/synthetic-marijuana/
(from FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin)

Synthetic Drugs (a.k.a. K2, Spice, Bath Salts, etc.)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/ondcp-fact-sheets/synthetic-drugs-k2-spice-bath-salts
(from U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/ondcp/Blog/synthetic_marijuana.pdf
(Easily printable pdf version)

Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/public/press12/synthetic-marijuana-faqs-for-consumers.pdf
(from New York City Health Department... pdf file)

A guide for parents and other influencers
http://www.drugfree.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Parents360-Synthetics-Bath-Salts-K2-Spice-Parents-Guide-FINAL-2-13-12.pdf
(pdf booklet for adult caretakers on synthetic marijuana from drugfree.org)

Article contact: Bill Sowers
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Water Rights and Water Conservation in Kansas

With the current drought in Kansas, there is a lot of interest in water rights and the conservation of water in Kansas.  Here are some resources that should be helpful to persons interested in this topic.
The Kansas Water Office is one of the main resources for information about water law and conservation in the state.
http://www.kwo.org/

Within the Kansas Water Office, there is a specific site for the current drought. 
http://www.kwo.org/reports_publications/Drought.htm

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment also has a water office which deals with various aspects of water law, regulation for construction and health issues.
http://www.kdheks.gov/water/index.html

The Kansas Department of Agriculture has an office that deals with reports on agricultural use of water in Kansas.
http://www.ksda.gov/appropriation/

Also from the Kansas Department of Agriculture
Kansas Handbook of Water Rights.
http://www.ksda.gov/appropriation/content/240

Kansas Conservation and Resources from Kansas State University
http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/conservation/s&w.htm

Water Conservation Education Resources
http://www.kwo.org/projects_programs/Water_Conservation_Education.html

Water Well Inspection Manual.
http://www.kdheks.gov/waterwell/download/Well_Inspection_Training_for_Water_Wells_4-5-12_Final.pdf

Kansas Water Well Program
http://www.kdheks.gov/waterwell/index.html

The Kansas Geological Survey is also a good source for water information.
http://www.kgs.ku.edu/

Rules and Regulations of Water  Appropriation Act, 2012
http://www.ksda.gov/includes/statute_regulations/mainportal/KWAA_Rules_Regs.pdf

NOAA update of drought information
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/eax/?n=drought

SW Kansas drought information 2012
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ddc/?n=drought

The Drought Monitor

http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

Go to the Kansas State Library's catalog, to search for further information on water resources and rights in Kansas, and to search databases for further information on the 2012 drought.

Article contact: Tom Roth