Afternoon update.
Up to five people were rushed to Orange Health Service after smoking synthetic marijuana last week.
Orange health professionals are concerned about the increasing number of people using synthetic marijuana.
The drug which mimics the effects of smoking cannabis can cause high blood pressure, a faster heartbeat, a heart attack, asthma attacks, psychosis, anxiety and hallucinations.
The potpourri like substance is produced in laboratories and can be purchased legally in Australia.
Mental health and drug and alcohol services Orange regional manager Adrian Fahy said the drug often contains a range of different cannabinoids which can cause a wide variety of health problems.
Dr Fahy said that while people take the synthetic drug to mimic the effects of cannabis, it can often have the opposite effect.
“People smoke marijuana to get a calm, mellow high, but the synthetic drug can cause people to become extremely agitated.”
Read the full story and the facts about synthetic marijuana in tomorrow's Central Western Daily.