This might sound like the plot of a superhero show or a comic book series, but this is real: a new concoction of herbs and chemicals capable of giving users super human strength is spreading across New York City.
New York Police District (NYPD) Commissioner Bill Bratton has already warned the public about the rise of this new kind of weed, being referred to at present as synthetic pot and "weaponised marijuana."
Known on the streets as "K2″ or "Spice," the concoction also makes users psychotic and impervious to pain. In worst cases, the drug user winds up hospitalised or dead.
"A number of individuals, when under the influence of this drug, are relatively impervious to pain and also have significant enhancement of their physical strength," Bratton said.
"Our concerns are the potential overdose and death, the incredible number of people going to hospitals as well as those that we take into custody," he added.
What is causing the spread of this new kind of weed? The NYPD attributes the sudden rampant use of "weaponised marijuana" to the huge cut in its price. It can be bought on the streets for as low as $2.
Because of its affordability, "weaponised marijuana" is becoming increasingly popular among New York's homeless population.
Bratton said the new synthetic weed also poses a significant threat to police officers. Traditional takedown methods being used by police officers, such as tasers and mace, do not work on users high on "weaponised marijuana."
"Our officers encountering these individuals face more significant risk of having to subdue these individuals and potentially receiving injuries," the NYPD chief said.
Bratton even showed videos of individuals under the influence of weaponised marijuana. One went naked and screamed in front of an NYPD van, while another one put his fist through a picket fence.
"Ironically, even as the trend is to decriminalise and effectively pay less attention to marijuana, the synthetic marijuana issue is one of great and growing concern here in New York City," the police official said.
