The synthetic Marijuana drug called "Spice" has caused 16 people to be sickened in downtown San Diego, prompting investigations into what exactly causes people to become ill.
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, fire officials in downtown San Diego made the treatments following numerous phone calls Saturday happening in the area.
Fire Spokesman Lee Swanson said that the Saturday calls to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department reached to more than 10 calls between 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and involved 16 seriously ill patients.
Swanson added that one of the patients who took the marijuana synthetic drug "Spice" was found near the Central Library on Park Boulevard, while another was seen at a Park and Market Street nearby. Meanwhile, the rest of the patients treated were reportedly gathered near the trolley station at 12th Street and Imperial Avenue.
The patients were also reported to range from their late teens to their early 20s.
Symptoms the patients complained about after consuming the marijuana synthetic drug "Spice" included mild nausea, fast heartbeat, agitation, difficulty in breathing and even unconsciousness in several cases.
According to The News Independent, David Gerboth, the San Diego Fire Department's Battalion Chief said, "Everything from anxiety, rapid heart rates to some of the severe cases where you've had patients who have been unconscious, actively seizing while we're gotten there with respiratory...decreased respiratory rates."
Of the 16 patients who took the marijuana synthetic drug "Spice," 11 were rushed to hospitals. Three of them were reported to be in serious condition.
Fortunately, Swanson said none of the patients were identified to be in a life-threatening situation so far.
Currently, police are investigating to find out where the popular marijuana synthetic drug "Spice", which is illegal in California, came from.
According to the Washington Times, this is the second time in a row that the marijuana synthetic drug "Spice" has caused multiple overdoses downtown. Last Sunday, November 22, more than two dozen people were reportedly treated for similar symptoms. One of the patients was 13 years of age.
