THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
THE UNIVERSITY
A profitable venture in tea for two A former KU student and a friend start the Wiseman Tea Co.in Chicago.BUSINESS | 8A
A taste of the Bayou
Downtown restaurant serves up Caljun classics. JAYPLAY | INSIDE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010
WWW.KANSAN.COM
VOLUME 121 ISSUE 81
WAR ON DRUGS
Photo Illustration by Spencer Walsh/KANSAN
The herbal mixture K2 causes a marijuana-like high when smoked. The Kansas House of Representatives and Senate are considering bills that would make the chemicals components in K2 illegal.
State legislature could ban K2
BY ERIN BROWN
ebrown@kansan.com
The possession and sale of an herbal mixture commonly referred to as K2 could become illegal in Kansas if bills circulating in the state legislature pass.
K2 is a name for a mixture of plant materials with added synthetic chemicals. When smoked, these chemicals produce a high similar to that of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, said Sgt. Steve Lewis of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.
"If people are acting and misbehaving
at the same level as someone intoxicated by alcohol or high on drugs, in my way of thinking, it's not a good thing," he said.
House Bill 2411, sponsored by Robert Olson, R-Olathe, and Senate Bill 348 would make the synthetic cannabinoids JWH 018 and JWH 073 found in K2 illegal. The mixture goes by different names in other parts of the state and country. At The Sacred Journey, 1103 Massachusetts St., it's sold as The Third Eye and Ramblin Rose. The store sells the substance as an incense.
The House took no action on H.B. 2411 Tuesday, after hearing testimony
from users and sellers of the substance. A Senate committee recommended approval of S.B. 348 last week after law enforcement officials voiced concern about the herbal mixture and its possible harmful effects. The full state Senate is expected to consider the bill Thursday.
Although lawmakers are concerned about harmful effects, few studies exist to validate or negate those concerns.
"Because these drugs bind better to the receptors in the brain than THC, there is a higher chance for long-term effects," said
SEE K2 ON PAGE 3A
What is K2?
K2 is made up of plant materials mixed with synthetic chemicals. In Lawrence, it is marketed and sold as incense, but when smoked, it is supposed to produce effects similar to THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.
K2 does not appear on drug tests, which makes it a popular alternative to marijuana, as K2 holds much less of a risk of being discovered.
www.twistedherbs.com
Project receives LEED award
BY TIM DWYER
tdwyer@kansan.com
The environmentally friendly house that Dan Rockhill and his architecture students built in Kansas City, Kan., last year recently received LEED platinum certification, making it the first residence to receive that designation in the Kansas City area.
Rockhill is a JL Constant distinguished professor of architecture and director of Studio 804, a not-for-profit design-and-build program at the School of Architecture. He said he and his students set out to build the most technologically advanced house in the area. They built the house in the Rosedale neighborhood of Kansas City, Kan., near the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Megan Rux Sevier, a 2009 graduate and a KU alumna with a master's degree in architecture, was one of the 22 team members who worked on the house at 3716 Springfield St. She said this was the capstone to a fulfilling project.
"Building sustainable has its own set of challenges, but in my opinion, it is how all buildings should be designed and built," she said.
LEED Platinum is the highest rating level possible in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System. The system awards points for meeting green building criteria, including use of sustainable resources, energy savings and carbon dioxide emissions reduction.
SEE HOUSE ON PAGE 3A
CAMPUS
Five engineering students invoke heritage in plan to increase recycling
BY JESSE BROWN
jbrown@kansan.com
After realizing the engineering buildings on campus are a bit lacking in recycling bins, five engineering students have taken it upon themselves to make sure their peers have a place to put their used cans and newspapers. But to them, it's a little more personal than just recycling.
The five students are all members of the recently reorganized American Indian Science and Engineering Society, and their purpose behind expanding the recycling program runs as deep as their heritage.
The American Indian Science in Engineering Society has placed 40 recycling bins in Eaton Hall, Learned Hall and Spahr Engineering Library. There are 40 to 50 trash bins in comparison.
"From a personal standpoint, being Native American, one of the philosophies that they always teach us is that Earth is your mother," Len Neefera, a junior from Lawrence, said. "A lot of it is taking care of what's been given to us."
fanner Grubbs/KANSAN
Trudy Curley, a sophomore from Lawrence, re-established AIES in
August after about a six-year hiatus from the club.
"This recycling thing is pretty much a big step for us." Trudy said.
The group has added 40 recyclin bins near Eaton Hall, Learned
Hall and Spahr Engineering Library. Twenty are made of cardboard and collect plastic and aluminum items while the other 20 are made of plas-
Tanner Grubbs/KANSAN
Len Necefer, a junior from Lawrence, describes the plan to place recycle bins throughout the engineering buildings. Today, Necefer and members of the American Indian Science in Engineering Society are seeking funds from Student Senate for the project.
SEE RECYCLE ON PAGE 3A
index
Classifieds. 3B Opinion. 7A
Crossword. 6A Sports. 1B
Horoscopes. 6A Sudoku. 6A
All contents, unless stated otherwise; © 2010 The University Daily Kansan
Ozone pollution lingers above West Coast states
Asian factories release the compound, a major ingredient of smog, complicating efforts to curb emissions in the U.S. NATIONAL | 8A
weather
TODAY
TODAY
39 32
Morning showers
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
Showers