NYC Leaders Looking To Tackle K2 Synthetic Marijuana Drug Crisis In Bed-Stuy
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- New York City leaders are looking to tackle the K2 synthetic marijuana drug crisis plaguing Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, following a CBS2 report on Monday.
CBS2's Christine Sloan reported the same cast of characters were back Tuesday despite a heavy police presence for a television shoot nearby.
Resident Kehinde Ogun said he's hoping seeing the threatening scene on TV gets the NYPD to push these thugs out for good.
"I get nervous sometimes. They are not in the right state of mind – mentally ill people using this K2," Ogun said.
Police said they've raided the Big Boy Deli on Myrtle Avenue and Broadway before, confiscating the drug and making arrests.
"The police say they are doing something, but clearly what they are doing isn't working because we have a problem," resident Trevor Tyrrell said.
New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said they will be reaching out to district colleagues to help tamp down the problem.
"You're raising this as a concern and definitely we will reach out to my colleagues that represent that district," Mark-Viverito said. "We want to bring some attention and relief to that community."
Mark-Viverito's own model to deal with K2 in East Harlem was to raid more businesses and implement an awareness campaign of warning people of the dangers of the drug.
"The idea is how do we model this in other neighborhoods where they are seeing a use of this drug, which is lethal in some cases," Mark-Viverito said.
A spokesperson for Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams said they're reaching out to the local police precinct to make sure there's a plan to get rid of the K2 epidemic on the corner that's got residents living in fear.
CBS2 also reached out to Councilman Robert Cornegy, who represents the district, but have not heard back.