Germany bans marijuana-like drug "Spice"

Germany bans marijuana-like mix made of synthetic cannabis

• On 9:32 am EST, Wednesday January 21, 2009

BERLIN (AP) -- Germany's health minister says the government has banned the production, sale or possession of a synthetic marijuana-like drug known as "Spice."

Health Minister Ulla Schmidt says Spice must "quickly be taken out of circulation." Wednesday's ban takes effect Thursday and comes weeks after German health officials found the drug contained a synthetic ingredient similar to marijuana.

Germany is the fourth nation to ban the substance, marketed as an herbal room-freshener, after Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Officials say Spice is typically rolled into cigarettes and smoked. It is usually sold in 3-gram packages for around euro30 ($39).