Synthetic marijuana sickening Newark residents

NEW JERSEY (FOX5NY) - Newark Police are investigating whether a spike in reports of sick or injured individuals is tied to overdoses from so-called synthetic marijuana.

The first reported incident was called into police at 8:12 a.m. Monday from Park Place. An additional nine incidents at various locations throughout the city were reported.  

Police are investigating the likelihood the influx is being caused by individuals having ingested synthetic marijuana, or K2 as it is sometimes known on the street.

Detectives from the Narcotics and Criminal Intelligence Units have initiated an investigation in an effort to determine the origins and causes of the sickness.  Police have also contacted the Drug Monitoring Initiative.

In May, police made several arrests after 70 people overdosed on synthetic marijuana in Newark in 48 hours. Police are looking into whether or not the incidents are related.