K2 ban goes into effect on Friday

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A synthetic drug that is grown in popularity over the past year officially becomes illegal Friday. Austin police said the federal ban makes K2 a Controlled 1 substance. That is the same as cocaine and could mean jail time for users.

K2 is an herbal product you can buy at head shops anywhere. It is legal even to minors, for now. The reason the government wants to put this ban in place for one year is to examine the side effects and possibly make this a permanent move.

Many users have been having hallucinations, severe agitation, elevated heart rates, vomiting, even seizures.

"I formerly smoked it, and I like it a lot. I'm glad it's going into effect though, because I know a lot of people who have been getting sick from it,” said Megan Elwood as she left the Austin head shop “ The Gas Pipe .”

The store’s workers said the product is still available on its shelves, but it would be gone on Friday.

KXAN News has been following the developments in the case against K2 throughout the year and have an in-depth investigation on its effects here .