Joshua Adams-Thesis

American Public University System
DigitalCommons@APUS
Master's Capstone Theses
8-2014
The Prevalance of Synthetic Cannabinoids in Army
Unifiorm and the Military Law Enforcement
Officer's Battle: An Analysis from 2011-2013
Joshua Lee Adams
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Adams, Joshua Lee, "The Prevalance of Synthetic Cannabinoids in Army Unifiorm and the Military Law Enforcement Officer's Battle:
An Analysis from 2011-2013" (2014). Master's Capstone Theses. Paper 16.

School of Public Service and Health
Criminal Justice Program
The thesis for the master’s degree submitted by
Joshua Lee Adams
under the title
THE PREVALANCE OF SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS IN ARMY UNIFORM AND THE
MILITARY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER'S BATTLE: AN ANALYSIS FROM 2011-
2013
has been read by the undersigned. It is hereby recommended for acceptance by the faculty with
credit in the amount of three semester hours.
Charles Russo Ph.D Date: 3/25/2014
Charles Russo, Ph.D., Reader
Recommended for approval on behalf of the program
__Vincent Giordano Ph.D Date: 4/1/2014
Vincent Giordano, Ph.D., Program Director
Recommendation accepted on behalf of the program director
Date: 4/2/2014
Constance St. Germain, J.D., Dean
Approved by Academic Dean

Running head: SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS AND THE U.S. ARMY 1
THE PREVALANCE OF SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS IN ARMY
UNIFORM AND THE MILITARY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER'S
BATTLE: AN ANALYSIS FROM 2011-2013
A Master Thesis
Submitted to the Faculty
of
American Military University
by
Joshua Lee Adams
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
of
Master of Arts in Criminal Justice
May 25, 2014
American Military University
Charles Town, WV

SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS AND THE U.S. ARMY 2
The author hereby grants the American Public University System the right to
display these contents for educational purposes.
The author assumes total responsibility for meeting the requirements set by United States
copyright law for the inclusion of any materials that are not the author’s creation or in the
public domain.
© Copyright 2014 by Joshua L. Adams
All rights reserved.

DEDICATION
I dedicate this thesis to my wonderful wife Michelle, my son Jaden, and my twin
brother Johnathan. Undoubtedly, this project has taken a lot of time out our lives.
Without their patience, understanding, support, love and hugs, I would not have been able
to complete this thesis and further pursue my educational goals.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I wish to thank all of the professors at American Military University (AMU)
whom I have had the privilege to teach me during the past two years. I would like to
thank Dr. Charles Russo for his guidance, patience, and mentorship during this endeavor.
I would also like to thank God for giving me the strength and mental toughness to be able
to accomplish a lifelong goal of mine.
I have found my coursework at AMU to be very demanding and relevant in
today's criminal justice and criminological professions. Many football games and lazy
pajama nights were missed during the pursuit of this degree and the writing of this thesis,
but my father always said, "nothing worth having is ever easy to obtain."

ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS
THE PREVALANCE OF SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS IN ARMY UNIFORM:
THE MILITARY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER'S BATTLE
by
Joshua L. Adams
American Public University System, May 25, 2014
Charles Town, West Virginia
Professor Charles Russo, Thesis Professor
The purpose of this work is to offer the military law enforcement officer a new
perspective on synthetic cannabinoid investigations by exploring themes identified by
conducting content analysis of final/closed United States Army Criminal Investigation
Command (USACIDC) or "CID", reports of investigation (ROIs) and Provost Marshal
Office (PMO) military police reports (MPRs). The theory of content analysis was
explored by reviewing ROIs from the military installations of Forts Bragg, NC and Fort
Bliss, TX from 2011-2013. A historical perspective on synthetic cannabinoids and why
they were first created is presented. Synthetic cannabinoids that are currently on the
Controlled Substance Act (CSA) are explained, and adolescent as well as teenager views
of synthetic cannabinoid use is examined. The physical effects of synthetic cannabinoid
use are also elaborated on in this project; the evolution and adaptation of procedures
created by the Army in the "war on cannabinoids" in the Army are explored.
Keywords: synthetic cannabinoid, "spice", USACIDC, army, law enforcement

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................ ......... 9
Statement of the Problem..................................................................... ....... 11
II. LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................. 13
Deployed Environment................................................................................. 14
Identification of Synthetic Cannabinoid Blends......................................... 15
Physical Effects of Use................................................................................. 18
Legal Talking Points of Synthetic Cannabinoid Investigations................. 18
Dissecting Knowing, Intelligent, and Voluntary ........................................ 19
Military Article 31(b) Rights ....................................................................... 20
Custody (Military) ........................................................................................ 20
Interrogation (Military) ................................................................................ 21
Knowing, Intelligent, and Voluntary (Military) ......................................... 21
Pharmacology ............................................................................................... 22
Stress and Potential of Abuse in Servicemen and Women ........................ 23
Exposures Reported to Poison Control Center ........................................... 24
Beliefs of Teenage Male Cannabinoid Offenders ...................................... 25
Treatment of Synthetic Cannabinoid Intoxication...................................... 26
Synthetic Cannabinoid Use in Adolescents ................................................ 26
History Repeats Itself ................................................................................... 27
The Challenge of Synthetic Cannabinoid Testing...................................... 29
Testing Urine Specimens in the Armed Forces .......................................... 31
Laboratory Analysis of Synthetic Cannabinoids in the Military............... 32
III. METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................... 33
Definition of Key Terms .............................................................................. 33
Study Population........................................................................................... 34
Data Collection ............................................................................................. 35
Operationalization of Key Variables........................................................... 37
Dependent Variables..................................................................................... 37
Independent Variables.................................................................................. 37
Limitations of the Study............................................................................... 38
Assumptions and Limitations ...................................................................... 38
IV. RESULTS...................................................................................................... 38
Fort Bliss (2011)........................................................................................... 38
Hot Spots of Synthetic Cannabinoid Investigations-Fort Bliss ................. 43
Fort Bragg (2011) ......................................................................................... 45
Hot Spots of Synthetic Cannabinoid Investigations-Fort Bragg ............... 48
Fort Bliss (2012)........................................................................................... 50
Hot Spots of Synthetic Cannabinoid Investigations-Fort Bliss (2012)..... 53

Fort Bragg (2012) ......................................................................................... 54
Hot Spots of Synthetic Cannabinoid Investigations-Fort Bragg (2012)... 56
V. DISCUSSION ............................................................................................... 58
Research Questions....................................................................................... 58
Answer to Research Question #1................................................................. 58
Hypotheses.................................................................................................... 59
Hypothesis #1................................................................................................ 59
Hypothesis #2................................................................................................ 59
Hypothesis #3................................................................................................ 59
Conclusion..................................................................................................... 60
LIST OF REFERENCES.......................................................................................... 63

LIST OF TABLES
TABLE PAGE
1. Total Number of Drug Cases by Drug Type.................................................................... 39
2. Investigations by Drug Type Committed by Soldiers and Civilians.............................. 39
3. Military vs Civilian Offenders.......................................................................................... 40
4. Total Military Offenders by Rank and Drug Type.......................................................... 41
5. Total Military Offenders by Gender and Age.................................................................. 41
6. Drug of Choice for Military and Civilian Offenders....................................................... 43
7. Possible Saturation Patrol and Target Locations............................................................. 44
8. Total Number of Drug Cases by Drug Type.................................................................... 45
9. Investigations by Drug Type Committed by Soldiers and Civilians.............................. 46
10. Military vs Civilian Offenders........................................................................................ 46
11. Total Military Offenders by Rank and Drug Type........................................................ 47
12. Total Military Offenders by Gender and Age................................................................ 47
13. Possible Saturation Patrol and Target Locations........................................................... 49
14. Total Number of Drug Cases by Drug Type.................................................................. 50
15. Investigations by Drug Type Committed by Soldiers and Civilians............................ 51
18. Drugs of Choice for Military and Civilian Offenders................................................... 53
19. Total Number of Drug Cases by Drug Type.................................................................. 54

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION
Serving in the United States Army is a privilege and a great honor for many men and
women across the nation. These Soldiers are America's sons, daughters, mothers, grandmothers,
aunts, and uncles. In today's mainstream media, stories of service member misconduct are
rampant and are in no short supply. After over 11 years of combat, the Army is transitioning
back from a combat fighting force to one that is restructuring and reducing the number of
individuals who are allowed to serve because of congressional budget cuts and new mandates.
As fewer troops see combat and the focus shifts to that of training and basic combat skill
sustainment, many Soldiers have chosen to participate in illegal drug activity (Arnold, 2013).
Since the 1990s, the Army has adopted "zero tolerance" policies pertaining to illegal drug
use (Bachman, Freedman-Doran, O'Malley, Johnston, & Segal, 1999). During 2006, a large part
of this illegal activity was in the form of the use and possession of synthetic cannabinoids, often
referred to as "Spice." The organization responsible for conducting these felony level
investigations within the United States Army is the United States Army Criminal Investigation
Command (USACIDC) or "CID" which the author currently serves as a special agent. Due to the
rise of synthetic cannabinoid use and possession investigations in the United States Army, policy
changes were implemented in order to combat it. These changes have been swift and deliberate
and have originated from the desks of the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Army.
Since senior level leadership enacted policy changes, one can deduce that the Army identified
the major problems synthetic cannabinoids created within the world's most powerful Army. Two
changes these policies have enacted come in the form of adding synthetic cannabinoid
metabolites to random urinalysis drug screening required of all uniformed personnel, and

officially banning synthetic cannabinoid use, possession, and sale both on and off duty and both
on and off military installations (Moonhee, Wonkyung, Hyeyoung, Hyejin, & Sooyeun, 2013).
The following vignette is a fictional story that exemplifies what military members face on
a daily basis. SPC Joseph Anderson was a young Soldier at his first duty station of Fort Bragg,
NC when he was first exposed to the synthetic cannabinoid culture. It all began when he was
inprocessing and he met PFC Johnathan Kyle. Joseph did not have a vehicle since he was fresh
out of high school. He did not have a family to co-sign for him and had no credit to purchase a
vehicle so he asked Johnathan for a ride to a local Food Lion grocery store in order for her to fill
his refrigerator. The grocery store was approximately 15 minutes off base. Joseph and Johnathan
went to the grocery store, but Johnathan made an unexpected stop at a local tobacco shop,
commonly known as a "smoke shop" or a "head shop." Customers go to smoke shops in order to
purchase everything from cigarettes and cigars to rolling papers and smoking devices that are
considered drug paraphernalia when used in conjunction with illegal substances. When
Johnathan returned back to his vehicle, Joseph asked him why he stopped at the smoke shop;
Johnathan's demeanor and facial expression clearly showed that he was uncomfortable.
Johnathan informed him that he had about $35 dollars left in his bank account, and that
he planned on smoking Spice in his room when he arrived back on Fort Bragg, NC since he was
very stressed out about getting promoted and being away from home for the first time, just like
Joseph. Johnathan showed Joseph the small, brightly colored foil packet he had just purchased
which contained approximately 35 grams of the name brand synthetic cannabinoid "Scooby
Snacks". While in Johnathan's car, Joseph asked him what the effects of synthetic cannabinoids
were because he did not want Johnathan to think that he was too scared to try new things. Joseph
also thought it would be good to start his military career off by having a friend whom he could

depend on to give him rides to and from physical fitness training early in the morning so he did
not have to walk a mile just to participate because Joseph was well aware that timeliness is a
very important aspect of military culture.
When Johnathan and Joseph arrived back at their rooms, Joseph succumbed to peer
pressure and, not wanting to appear weak and scared, he smoked a hand rolled synthetic
cannabinoid cigarette with Joseph. The effects were immediate, swift, and acute. Joseph's pupils
immediately dilated and he informed Johnathan that he had a headache and felt "weird." Within
minutes, Joseph began to have a seizure in Johnathan's room, even though he immediately called
emergency medical services to render aid to his friend, it was too late. Joseph was pronounced
dead at the scene and, following an investigation by CID, Johnathan was charged with
involuntary manslaughter; he is now serving a 10 year prison sentence at Fort Leavenworth
Disciplinary Barracks in Kansas.
Although fictional, this story is a true and accurate representation of what many young
Soldiers have to face when they enter the United States Army. Some young people may say that
they do not want to join the military because they want to enjoy all the frills of the "college
experience" of dorm living and being independent; however, a service member lives in barracks
rooms, can also go to college while gaining practical experience, and there is one more very
distinctive thing that separates the Soldier from the student; a Soldier has a steady pay check
whereas most full-time college students do not. The reality of this is that these are the sons,
daughters, fathers, and mothers, of the fabric of America and they deserve a better start in life
and in their future careers.
Statement of the Problem. The purpose of this work is to offer a military law enforcement
perspective on synthetic cannabinoid investigations as there is currently a void in relevant

research and analysis. The research conducted will answer the following research questions: (a)
what percentage of caseload do synthetic cannabinoid investigations make up of the CID gross
aggregate drug caseload in the larger installations of Fort Bragg, NC and Fort Bliss, TX (b) what
is the rate of recidivism among military offenders even though there is currently a zero tolerance
policy(c) are the majority of incidents occurring off or on the military installation and (d) how
much synthetic cannabinoid does the average offender purchase during one transaction? Forts
Bragg and Bliss are some of the larger military installations in the Army's arsenal and they are
also offer situated in different geographic regions allowing for regional comparative analysis and
for greater diversity in data mining. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) currently has
five chemical compounds in emergency scheduling (Schedule I) under the Controlled Substances
Act. These substances are JHW-018, JWH-073, JWH-200, CP-47,497, and CP-47-497 C8
(DEA, 2014). Synthetic cannabinoid use in the Army has gained the attention, time, money, and
health of a major portion of the younger Soldiers in the Army. Research must be conducted in
order to enhance the effectiveness of CID's proactive drug operations which also includes
support and a cooperative effort by local law enforcement agencies as the source of synthetic
cannabinoids to Soldiers are business establishments outside of the Army's command and
control. The work of Bebarta, Ramirez, and Varney, (2012) states "due to the inability to detect
Spice on routine urine drug screens, easy accessibility online and in local stores, and the 'legal
high' it provides, it is appealing to the military communities" (p. 496).

CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW
Psychoactive substance use in the military is not a new phenomenon. Unfortunately, it
will continue to be a problem as long as society continues to abuse substances. The nation's
military is recruited from the cloth of American society after all. In order to find solutions to
future problems, one must look to the past. In the past, rations of rum were deemed a part of
everyday life for the Soldier (Bachman, Freedman-Doan, O'Malley, Johnston, & Segal, 1999). It
was believed that by receiving rum, troop morale would be higher, especially during the time of
the American Revolution. During World War I and World War II, Soldiers were given cigarettes
with their food, and it was oftentimes commonplace to see a picture of a Soldier smoking before,
during, or after battle. These pictures could be found on billboards from coast to coast. No other
conflict in history is perhaps more famous for depicting our young men and women in the Army
as having a substance abuse addiction than that of the conflict of Vietnam (Bachman et al.,
1999). "Because military service involves a high level of commitment to, and involvement in, an
institution that strictly organizes many aspects of an individual's lifestyle, a 'zero tolerance'
policy might reasonably be expected to have importance impacts on the behaviors of military
personnel" (Bachman et al., 1999, p. 672).
Modern military organizations are mainly paternalistic organizations, and it's members
typically recognize a duty of care toward military personnel and are willing to ignore or violate
the consent of military personnel in order to uphold that duty of care (Wolfendale & Clarke,
2008). One of the things a civilian learns during the transformation from civilian to Soldier
during Basic Combat Training is the concept of selfless service. Civilian personnel are able to
exercise a considerable number of autonomy in their lives, unlike their military counterparts.

Deployed Environment. Synthetic cannabinoids have become more popular with each passing
day since entered the American public market in approximately 2004. Spice can be easily
obtained via the world wide web and in local stores. This also means that anyone with a credit
card, to include juveniles, can order synthetic cannabinoids for subsequent sale or personal use.
The "legal high" that synthetic cannabinoids bring is appealing to military communities since
many metabolites were not initially screened for during random urinalysis testing conducted by
the Army. Soldiers and Sailors were among the earliest users of synthetic cannabinoids in the
United States (Bebarta, Ramirez, & Vareny, 2012). This is an alarming fact that has shocked
many people in the American society since one must undergo intense scrutiny and selection in
order to enlist in the United States military or to be commissioned as an Officer or Warrant
Officer by the President of the United States. Most servicemen and women are believed to be
made up of a higher moral cloth than that of the average citizen. The normal effects of synthetic
cannabinoids offer the same general effects as traditional marijuana (a Schedule I) controlled
substance, without the danger of being detected during a random urine urinalysis. Offenders
make a conscious decision that the risk is worth the gain of the high.
According to the work of Bebarta et al., (2012), the normal adverse reactions to synthetic
cannabinoids are paranoia, scleral injection, xerostomia, visual persecutory hallucinations,
sedation, and agitation. Synthetic cannabinoid use can also have severe adverse effects with
common medicines like diphenhydramine and acetaminophen (Tylenol) (Bebarta et al., 2012).
There have also been reports of seizures as an effect of synthetic cannabinoid intoxication, and
preliminary studies have indicated that cannabinoids can possibly lower the seizure threshold in
humans (Bebarta et al., 2012). The seizure side effect is of particular importance when one is

talking about a Soldier being in a deployed and isolated environment where the nearest hospital
or military treatment facility (MTF) could be over 100 miles away.
Identification of Synthetic Cannabinoid Blends. The work of Logan, Reinhold, Xu, and
Diamond (2012) indicated that the recreational drug community has experienced an increase in
popularity of herbal or incense products laced with one or more synthetic cannabinoid agonists,
drugs with cannabinoid-like properties. Synthetic cannabinoid agonists were synthesized in the
1990s in academic research centers and in the pharmaceutical industry as candidate
investigational drugs and have in common an affinity for the cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors
that are located in the brain. In November of 2010, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
proposed adding HU-210, JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-200, CP-47,497, and cannabicyclohexanol
to Schedule I of the Controlled Substance Act (CSA) (Logan et al., 2012). These compounds also
inhibit and mimic the same effects as that of THC. Even states at the local level have radically
and aggressively moved to schedule the aforementioned chemical compounds at the local level
into criminal statutes because of community concerns about their potential of abuse and lack of
accepted medical use.
This all correlates to the reason why synthetic cannabinoids are placed as Schedule I
controlled substances as they have a high potential for dependency and abuse and have no
accepted medical use. It is ironic that this is why they were first made in the first place. Mankind
will turn something with the greatest intention of causing good into something that hurts people.
After the first states (Missouri and Kansas) enacted legislation to officially make JWH-018 and
JWH-073, the two most commonly used compounds found in herbal incense blends, illegal new
products appeared in the online "incense" market (Logan et al., 2012). In 2012, the most
common blended material in America was named "K2" and was marketed as incense. The

material was typically sold in a small mylar bag with a zip lock closure. Today, most
manufacturers packaging is comprised of foil material. The contents of the bag contained
approximately one to three grams of a mixture of dried and crush plant material which included
flowers, stems, and leaves. K2 also contained a perfume odor.
When K2 first appeared on the scene, it was marketed as an incense and contained the
words "not for human consumption" on the manufacturer's packaging. K2 was also sold as
incense for burning, and drug-user websites indicated that the material should be smoked in
cigarettes, joints, or pipes much like the apparatus commonly used for ingesting marijuana
(Logan et al., 2012). The author has personally seen everything from cigarette cans to electronic
cigarettes (e-cigs) being used in order to facilitate synthetic cannabinoid ingestion. The same
drug paraphernalia used when smoking marijuana (rolling papers, bongs, etc.) can be used when
an offender smokes synthetic cannabinoids. Germany is recognized in the international
community for it's initial research in identifying the compounds found in synthetic cannabinoids
and for leading the initial criminalization effort (Johnson, Johnson, & Alfonzo, 2011).
The production, sale, distribution, and possession of many of the specific psychoactive
synthetic chemicals found in synthetic cannabinoids were banned in Germany in 2009,
approximately two years before the United States. As soon as four weeks after criminalization,
samples of synthetic cannabinoids were obtained throughout the country which indicated the
producers had already replaced the banned compounds with new unregulated chemicals. There
are currently multiple formulations of synthetic cannabinoids circulating worldwide. Of
particular importance to this project, interviews were conducted of smoke shop owners who
reported up to 50% of customers purchasing synthetic cannabinoids were in active duty military
training (Johnson et al., 2011). Their work also indicated that service members made large

quantities of purchases of synthetic cannabinoids before a deployment and on a payday. Because
of the previous inability to test for Spice during urinalysis testing in the military, service
members favor them as do law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and other positions of public
trust who are subject to random and scheduled drug testing. Because of the difficulty in detecting
synthetic cannabinoids by all of the uniformed services, all services have increased
administrative efforts to ban possession and use of synthetic cannabinoids and other
psychoactive substances.
Army Regulation 600-85 prohibits using synthetic cannabinoids "for the purpose of
inducing excitement, intoxication, or stupefaction of the central nervous system." The United
States Army Pacific released policy memorandum 10-17 in 2008 that prohibited the possession,
distribution, and use of synthetic cannabinoids and other currently unscheduled psychoactive
substances. Cases of unscheduled synthetic cannabinoid use, possession and distribution are
punishable under Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Those cases that
involve a scheduled synthetic cannabinoid are investigated under Article 112(a) (use, possession,
distribution, and introduction of a controlled substance) of the UCMJ and carry the same penalty
as their Schedule I cohorts. Punishment can range from confinement in prison for up to one year
and/or receiving a dishonorable discharge from the military service.
The New Trend. "Designer drugs are types of synthetic drugs that are produced clandestinely
and contain modified molecular structures of illegal or controlled substances" (Loeffler, Hurst,
Penn, & Yung, 2012, p. 1041). More specifically, designer drugs provide effects similar to the
controlled substances while circumventing existing drug laws. Circumvention is exactly why
synthetic cannabinoid use in the Army is as prevalent as it is today. The work of Loeffler et al.,
(2012) illustrated how the men and women in the United States armed forces are not immune to

designer drug use and abuse. In June 2011, 30 Airmen of Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma were
discharged for synthetic cannabinoid use. During the same month, an Army combat medic who
had proven himself as a combat leader by having served two combat deployments, asphyxiated
his five year old son then shot and killed his wife and himself while high on "bath salts" that are
considered synthetic cathinones (Loeffler et al., 2012). In October 2011, 64 Sailors were
apprehended for synthetic cannabinoid use and possession while on board the USS Carl Vinson;
one month later 28 more Sailors on the USS Ronald Reagan were caught for synthetic
cannabinoid use and possession (Loeffle et al., 2012). Synthetic cannabinoids resulted in the
expulsion of 16 United States Navy midshipmen from the Naval Academy in July 2011,
followed by 14 Coast Guard Academy cadets in January 2012 (Loeffler et al., 2012).
Physical Effects of Use. Both acute and long-term physical and psychological effects of
synthetic cannabinoid use have not been well-documented until fairly recently. In 2012,
information about synthetic cannabinoids in the military came almost exclusively from self-
reports of offenders using them. Controversy exists as to whether cannabis use causes chronic
psychotic illnesses; however, it is generally agreed that cannabis intoxication can cause an acute
transient psychotic episode as well as recurrence of a previous or dormant psychotic symptoms
(Ballweg, 1991). To the law enforcement officer, this is an important aspect of Spice use that
must be understood, especially when an offender must be apprehended.
Legal Talking Points of Synthetic Cannabinoid Investigations
The United States Congress has indicated that the military of the United States of
American is a "unique society of its own" and as such, should implement and have its own
separate criminal justice system. All Supreme Court decisions effect the entire American
population, in particular, the field of law enforcement; the case of Miranda v. Arizona surely did.

The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the three lower courts cases and found that
confessions obtained from individuals when they were subjected to custodial interrogation
without being advised of their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination was
unconstitutional because this right was jeopardized. In order to protect one's rights henceforth, a
safeguard was mandated in the form of law enforcement officials having to verbally, written, or
both inform a suspect or subject of their right against self-incrimination before any questioning
can begin. A suspect has the right to remain silent and has the right to know that anything they
say or do can be used against them in a court of law; they also have the right to have an attorney
present, and if they cannot afford an attorney one could be appointed to them prior to any
questioning beginning (U.S. Const, 1791).
Dissecting Knowing, Intelligent, and Voluntary
Of additional importance, after these aforementioned rights have been read to the
individual accused, a law enforcement officer can interrogate the suspect only after a knowing,
intelligent, and voluntary waiver of those rights. "Knowing" and "intelligent" refers to one's
understanding all of their rights as they were explained to that person (U.S. Const, 1791). This
can simply be done by asking the defendant if they understand their rights as they were read to
an individual in addition to what could possibly happen to them if they waived their rights.
"Voluntary" refers to the principle that a waiver of one's rights cannot be obtained by police
coercion or intimidation (Amendment V). This is oftentimes portrayed in police movies and
television shows by shining a bright and hot light into one's face or even throwing or hitting a
defendant with a large telephone book. These actions are expressly forbidden by law and have a
negative impact with the police and the communities they are supposed to protect. If the waiver
of one's rights does not satisfy what the author calls this "three-pronged test", than any

confession or evidence obtained from the confession is inadmissible under the Exclusionary Rule
even if the defendant actually committed the crime. Many people today cannot fathom the fact
that a clearly guilty person could be allowed to not serve a jail sentence or receive any form of
punishment for their crimes. The Constitution is very clear about violations of a defendant's
rights which is why the law enforcement and judiciary professional must know the law in order
to enforce and apply the law both accurately and effectively.
Military Article 31(b) Rights. The United States military has additional clear rules as it pertains
to the right against self-incrimination of an accused which are identified as Article 31(b) rights
within the Manual for Courts-Martial (M.C.M.), 2012. The MCM, Rule 301, indicates that both
Fifth Amendment privileges and Article 31 of the M.C.M. are applicable to active duty service
members for testimonial and communicative statements. Article 31(b) states "No person subject
to this chapter may request a statement from, an accused or a person suspected of an offense
without first informing him of his rights" (M.C.M., 2012). This is an important point of interest
for the military law enforcement officer and unit commander to know because even if he or she
smells what they think is Spice emitting from a Soldier's room, the law enforcement officer and
the unit commander must advise an active duty service member of their right against self-
incrimination before they ask an alleged offender if they currently possess or ingested synthetic
cannabinoid, even when not in custody. One can see how this rule slightly defers from the
Miranda decision and adds another layer of protection to the service member.
Custody (Military). The M.C.M. defines custody as:
"restraint of free locomotion imposed by lawful apprehension. The restraint may be
physical or, once there has been a submission to apprehension or a forcible taking into

custody. Custody is temporary restraint intended to continue until other restraint is
imposed or the person is released" (M.C.M., 2012)
Interrogation (Military). "Interrogation" applies whenever an incriminating response is either
sought or is a reasonable consequence of such questioning. As one can see, we have now
stumbled upon one of the most definitive and important main differences between civilian and
military self-incrimination standards.
Knowing, Intelligent, and Voluntary (Military). The same definitions for civilians also apply
to active members of the United States military.
No one person is born with the knowledge to know everything there is to know about
criminal law; especially, when it comes to the military and civilian aspects of it. If one is a police
officer, lawyer, security specialist, and even a probation officer, they must know the major
differences and similarities between the two in order for there to be a decent balance. For
instance, if a military member lives off base and commits a crime, that initial patrol officer can
affect the outcome of a military court-martial without their knowledge. When it comes to law,
there is no such thing as the "I didn't know" exception. The author would not want to get caught
saying the aforementioned phrase at a court-martial or a civilian criminal proceeding. The right
to not be a witness against oneself is specified by the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution that
has been discussed and expounded upon in this work. The civilian and military criminal
procedure systems are bands of justice that meet in the middle. In the middle of both these circle
is the United States Constitution.
Pharmacology
Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists consist of four different groups of chemical
structures and these chemicals bind to the same CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors as THC. The

CB1 receptor is expressed most densely in the central nervous system, mainly in the
hippocampus, basal ganglia, neocortex, amygdala, and cerebellum (Loeffler et al., 2012). It is
also found throughout the body to include the digestive tract, lungs, kidney, and the pituitary
gland. The CB2 receptor is also communicated through the brain less densely and can be found
predominantly in neurons.
The largest structural group of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists are "JWH"
compounds named after Dr. John W. Huffman, an organic chemist at Clemson University, who
synthesized many of the banned and unbanned compounds in synthetic cannabinoids. JWH's
chemical structure is different from THC. The JWH class has a much higher affinity to
cannabinoid receptors and is significantly more potent. JWH-018, one of the earliest and most
common compounds detected in synthetic cannabinoids is also among the best characterized.
Compared to THC, JWH-018 has four times the affinity for the CB1. JWH-018 is a full agonist as
well (Loeffler et al., 2012).
CP-47,497 was originally developed by the Pfizer pharmaceutical company and is also a
common compound found in synthetic cannabinoids used by servicemen and women. Similar to
JWH-018, it has higher affinity for the CB1 receptor. It is also up to 28 times more potent than
THC. This is an alarming statistic. Most individuals who want more potent marijuana would
have to travel to the state of Hawaii or Colorado; however, Spice has made it easier for the drug
abuser to find a way to experience the effects of very potent marijuana with a high THC level
without all the hassle of having to wonder if it will be "in season" or not. There is no wonder
individuals prepare Spice over traditional organic marijuana as it relieves some form of hassle
for the user (Loeffler et al., 2012).

The "HU" family of synthetic cannabinoids are structurally very similar to THC. HU-210
was developed at Hebrew University and binds both the CB1 and CB2 receptors. HU is
approximately 100 to 800 times more potent than THC. HU-210 has been associated with
problems in learning and memory in animal models (Loeffler et al., 2012). In one study, rats
were given HU-210 once a day for four days and demonstrated continued cognitive deficits even
following seven days of no exposure.
Benzoylindoles comprise the fourth group of class of synthetic cannabinoids. AM-694
and RCS-4 have been the most recent compounds found in this class of synthetic cannabinoids.
Very little is known of these substances except that they bond strongly to the receptors
previously identified in this work (Loeffler et al., 2012).
Stress and Potential of Abuse in Servicemen and Women. Military women and men are
subject to a wide range of stressors commensurate with performing their official duties. As such,
these stressors may be associated with the physical or mental challenges of their jobs, demands
placed on them because of a shortage of other personnel, exposure to trauma associated with
combat, or conflicts between military and family responsibilities (Bray, Fairbank, & Marsden,
1999). Today, the military is undergoing a drawdown and thousands of Soldiers have to face the
reality that their services in the military are no longer needed. This can be a stressful time for
anyone. Military women may experience stress associated with being a woman in a
predominantly male environment or because of sexual harassment they may encounter. Military
personnel are also likely to experience the same stressors as other people outside the military,
including the stress of family and work responsibilities and uncertainties introduced by changing
economic conditions. Exposure to traumatic stressors has been strongly implicated in the
elevated rates of substance abuse and dependence among veterans, and substance abuse has been

found to be highly correlative with post-traumatic stress disorders (Bray et al., 1999). Women
who served in Vietnam and experienced high levels of war zone stress were found to have
significantly higher rates of drug abuse and dependence than did other women veterans of the
Vietnam era, while women theater veterans who were exposed to lower levels of such stress did
not have significantly more drug dependency disorders than did other women veterans of the
Vietnam era (Bray et al., 1999).
Exposures Reported to Poison Control Centers. Synthetic cannabinoids have recently gained
popularity as a recreational drug because they are believed to result in a marijuana-like high. The
work of Forrester, Kleinschmidt, Schwarz, and Young (2012) compared synthetic cannabinoids
and marijuana exposures reported to a statewide poison center system. Synthetic cannabinoid
and marijuana exposures reported to Texas poison centers during 2010 were identified. The
distribution of exposures to the two agents with respect to various demographic and clinical
factors were compared by calculating the rate ratio (RR) of the synthetic cannabinoid and
marijuana percentages for each subgroup and 95% confidence interval (CI). Further, the work of
Forrester et al., (2012) states:
"The proportion of synthetic cannabinoid and marijuana exposures, respectively, were
87.3% and 46.5% via inhalation (RR 1.88, 95% CI 1.38–2.61), 74.9% and 65.7% in
male (RR 1.14, 95% CI 0.87–1.51), 40.2% and 56.6% age _19 years (RR 0.71, 95% CI
0.52–0.98), 79.2% and 58.6% occurring at a residence (RR 1.35, 95% CI 1.02–1.82),
8.4% and 16.2% managed on-site (RR 0.52. 95% CI 0.28–1.00), and 59.3% and 41.4%
with serious medical outcomes (RR 1.43, 95% CI 1.03–2.05)" (p. 1006).
Compared to marijuana, synthetic cannabinoid exposures were more likely to be used through
inhalation, to involve adults, to be used at a residence, and to result in serious outcomes.

Beliefs of Teenage Male Cannabinoid Users
According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, a 56% increase in
human exposure calls related to synthetic cannabinoids were documented from 2010 to 2012
(Meshack, Peters, Ting-Lin, Hill, Abughosh, Essien, & Savage, 2013). The work of Meshack et
al., (2013) conducted a qualitative study of data collected through the Fifth Ward Enrichment
Program (FWEP) in Houston, Texas. Members of the project team met with school personnel
from a large and diverse charter high school in Houston to secure approval to conduct the study
in 2012. School personnel were asked to identify students who would be interested in
participating in focus groups about synthetic cannabinoid smoking norms.
Five major open-ended questions were asked during the course of the groups to identify
participants' subjective norms and general beliefs related to synthetic cannabinoid use, as well as
the source of their access to the drug. This work is relevant to this project in that the author's
research indicates teenagers as main offenders in CID synthetic cannabinoid investigations. The
five questions asked in the study were: (1) From where do you receive synthetic marijuana?; (2)
Why do people use synthetic marijuana?; (3) How many puffs of real marijuana versus synthetic
marijuana does it take for you to get high?; (4) What do your friends feel about people who use
synthetic marijuana?; and (5) What are the health consequences of synthetic marijuana use
(Meshack et al., 2013)?
When asked to name the source where synthetic cannabinoids were obtained, 44% of
respondents stated "smoke shop" as their primary place of acquisition. This answer corroborates
the statement analysis conducted in this project. The most common reason that respondents
(61%) stated they used synthetic cannabinoids was because of "probation compliance" and
"accessibility" (24%). The most common response related to the dosing required to obtain mind

and or mood altering effects from "real" marijuana were "eight" (41%) and "six" puffs (22%).
For synthetic cannabinoids, the number of puffs needed was "three" (61%) and "two" (27%).
Most participants stated that their friends felt that people who use synthetic cannabinoids were
"normal" (85%), and most respondents felt that "irregular fast heart beat" (43%) and "paranoia"
(29%) were the two most perceived health consequences of Spice use. The majority of
respondents felt that the euphoric effect created by marijuana could be achieved with less intake
of synthetic cannabinoids. In addition, respondents felt that their health effects resulting from the
use of synthetic cannabinoids, included tachycardia, paranoia, and memory loss. This
information is crucial in the war against synthetic cannabinoids in the Army since this work will
later illustrate that the majority of offenders are lower ranking Soldiers (teenagers to 20 year
olds).
Treatment of Synthetic Cannabinoid Intoxication. Management of synthetic cannabinoid
intoxication is largely supportive. Health care professionals can provide a non-stimulating
environment to soothe anxiety and agitation, and monitor the patient's vital signs. Lorazepam or
another long-acting benzodiazepine may be necessary to manage agitation, and intravenous
benadryl may be administered (McGuiness & Newell, 2012). The creator of synthetic
cannabinoids, Dr. Huffman, conducted an interview and described the recreational use of them
wherein he stated, "It's like playing Russian roulette because we do not have the toxicity data, we
do not know the metabolites, and we do not know the pharmacokinetics" (McGuiness & Newell,
2012, p. 18). The unknowns surrounding the recreational use of new chemical compounds
combined with young people's sense of invulnerability can lead to potential serious health risks
including death.

Synthetic Cannabinoid Use in Adolescents. The author has discussed synthetic cannabinoid
use in teenagers of the United States, but there is also another aggregate that is crucial in this
project, and that is adolescent use of synthetic cannabinoids as well. The work of Bhatty and Wu
(2013) indicates current statistics from the United States Center for Disease and Prevention that
39.9% of adolescents surveyed had used organic cannabinoids at least once and 23.1% used it
regularly within the last month of the survey. Those statistics showed a 3.1% increase from the
survey results in 2009; similar data showed that 11.4% of United States 12th graders have used
synthetic cannabinoids in 2013, making it the second most commonly used illicit drug among
high school seniors.
Current trends indicate a decrease in perception of harm from cannabinoids in addition to
a decrease in disapproval of use by older peers may have lead to an increase of cannabinoid use
over the past few years (Bhatty et al., 2013). There are certainly other risk factors, including pre-
existing medical conditions or mood and anxiety disorders that play a role. Since synthetic
cannabinoid potency seems to get higher and higher as the DEA schedules compounds and
makes them illegal, newer classes of synthetic cannabinoid abuse likely will become a greater
challenge.
History Repeats Itself. The recent proliferation of unregulated psychoactive substances is
unprecedented in drug abuse. Since the 1960s, the pharmaceutical and research communities
have been in search of cannabinoid receptor agonists with the analgesic and anti-inflammatory
properties of THC without psychotropic side effects (Rosenbaum, Carriero, & Babu, 2012). This
is exactly what Dr. Huffman was trying to accomplish with his work. The synthetic cannabinoids
developed over this time have led to a better understanding of the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid
receptors in the human brain and nervous system. With this great knowledge, comes hundreds of

synthetic cannabinoids that may be incorporated with herbal constituents or abused as single-
ingredient powder mixture. After European and Russian authorities banned synthetic
cannabinoids in 2010, they appeared in the United States (Rosenbaum et al., 2012).
Because synthetic cannabinoids are available via the Internet, monitoring of the Internet
community has been an important means of understanding emerging trends in their abuse. The
initial tracking of synthetic cannabinoids took place in the European Union (EU) with an early
warning system called (Reitox) which involved 27 EU states coordinating efforts to help identify
emerging drugs of abuse, much like how the United States has done (Rosenbaum et al., 2012). A
similarly coordinated early warning system exists in America called the Community
Epidemiology Work Group (CEWG) established by the National Institute of Drug Abuse
(NIDA). NIDA mandates representation from major metropolitan areas and meets semiannually,
where members present their geographically unique trends in drug abuse. The CEWG identified
the emerging synthetic cannabinoid epidemic in the Midwestern United States in 2010. By the
summer of 2010, a report of over 1,000 cases of synthetic cannabinoid-induced toxicity was
available via Poison Control Centers for 48 states and the District of Columbia (Rosenbaum et
al., 2012).
A new database, ToxIc shows promise in identifying emerging drugs like synthetic
cannabinoids. This database was created by the American College of Medical Toxicology
(ACMT); ToxIc provides a means for the toxicology community to centralize their research
observations on what are frequently smaller, geographically specific patterns in emerging drugs
of abuse. As awareness of the synthetic cannabinoid epidemic grew, local and federal law
enforcement efforts culminated in the scheduling of the identified synthetic cannabinoid
compounds identified in this project. The rapid scheduling of these cannabinoids met with mixed

opinions; some researchers expressed concern that the reclassification of synthetic cannabinoids
in Schedule I would hamper research on the potential benefits of cannabinoids in treating a
variety of human diseases and processes (Bhatty et al., 2013).
Synthetic cannabinoids can also be divided into seven major structural groups:
naphthoylindoles (JWH-018 and JWH-073), naphthylmethylindoles, naphtholypyrroles,
naphthylmethylindenes, phenylacetylindoles (JWH-250), cyclohexylphenols (CP47, 497), and
classical cannabinoids (HU-210). In December of 2008, the German company THC Pharma
located in Frankfurt, Germany, reported JWH-018 as an active ingredient in synthetic
cannabinoids (Lindigkeit et al., 2009). Shortly after, two research groups at the University of
Freiburg, Germany and at the National Institute of Health Sciences, Japan concurrently identified
and characterized the CP47,497 homolog in Spice It is evident that the producers of herbal
incense products have gone about in a very methodical manner to mine the scientific literature
for promising psychoactive compounds. Not all criminals are your average serial killer or burglar
that leave clues of their crimes. A very intellectual individual can also be a very smart criminal;
most likely published binding affinities were exploited as primary criterion.
The Challenge of Synthetic Cannabinoid Testing
Drug testing is useful for monitoring progress for patients in treatment. Urine drug testing
is the most common type of testing, as it is readily available and inexpensive. A positive urine
test only establishes a past use. As cannabinoid metabolites are highly lipophilic, they can persist
for extended periods of time, and urine tests for cannabinoids can remain positive after
discontinuation of use for up to seven to 10 days in a casual user, two to four weeks in a heavy
user, and months in a chronic heavy user (Bhatty et al., 2013). There is currently no widespread
commercially available drug testing for synthetic cannabinoids in the civilian sector; however,

there is standardized testing in the Department of Defense. While parent drugs are detectable in
product samples, metabolites of synthetic cannabinoids may be the only detectable compounds
present in human blood or urine. One report described the monohydroxylated metabolite (M1) of
JWH-018 as the most abundant and detectable metabolite in drug testing (Rosenbaum et al.,
2012). In another study of over 500 urine samples of patients undergoing routine drug testing,
metabolite-based liquid chromatography-mass-spectrometry (LC-MS) screening detected JWH-
018, JWH-073, and JWH-250 (Rosenbaum et al., 2012). In a combined analysis of the "Tropical
Synergy" cannabinoids, and urine obtained from users, LC-MS and gas chromatography-mass-
spectrometry (GC-MS) demonstrates that although the parent JWH-018 can sometimes not be
detected, two glucuro-conjugated and monohydroxylated metabolites are apparent. With more
research and better understanding of the problem, more education and proactive deterrent
methods could be employed; thus improving the Army's readiness and fitness.
Analysis of synthetic cannabinoids is relevant from both a clinical and law enforcement
perspective. Several studies have investigated their detection in seized material and in bodily
fluids (Emerson, Durham, Gidden, & O'Lay, 2013). Reliable detection of aminoalkylindole
(AAI) and metabolites in a variety of substrates is critical because the numbers of severe
episodes of intoxication are increasing at healthcare facilities. There are currently several
methods for detection of JWH metabolites in urine samples: using liquid chromatography and
tandem mass spectrometry. The development of a second technique, using a different approach,
would be useful for confirmation (Emerson et al., 2013). The metabolism of JWH-018 appears to
be consistent with cytochrome P450 oxidation followed by transformation to glucuronic acid
(Rosenbaum, 2012). Because of the variability of metabolic processes and differences in the time
frame of urinary retention among individuals, the free metabolites in urine may include both the

conjugates and their hydrolysis products (Rosenbaum, 2012). There are currently independent
companies that advertise a commercial test for synthetic cannabinoid detection in human
samples of urine and blood.
"Blood testing is available for metabolites of the following compounds: AM-2201, AM-
694, JWH-018, JWH-019, JWH-073, JWH-081, JWH-122, JWH-200, JWH-210, JWH-
250, RCS-4, and RCS-8; urine testing is available for metabolites of the following
compounds: AM-2201, JWH-018, JWH-019, JWH-073, and JWH-250" (Rosenbaum et
al., 2012, p. 18).
Testing Urine Specimens in the Armed Forces. Until late 2013 early 2014, the only forensic
toxicology laboratory that tested urine specimens for synthetic cannabinoids in the armed forces
was the division of forensic toxicology of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner's System
(AFMES) located in Dover, Delaware (Berry-Caban, Kleinschmidt, Rao, & Jenkins, 2012). Unit
commanders had to give a lawful order, based upon probable cause, for a service member to
submit to a urinalysis. This probable cause standard could be met by the offender informing the
unit commander that he/she recently or had used synthetic cannabinoids before, or by the request
of the CID. Most urinalysis were conducted to supplement CID requests for probable cause
urinalysis during the course of their investigations (Berry-Caban et al., 2012).
As one can imagine, receiving and analyzing numerous urinalysis samples from every
branch of the armed forces was time consuming and detracted from the AFMES primary mission
of supporting criminal and noncriminal autopsies on all service members who died in the line of
duty in support of war time operations, and to provide autopsy support to military criminal
investigative organizations (MCIOs) like CID and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service
(NCIS) to name a few. As a result of an unprecedentedly high caseload combined with the

increased demand to expand synthetic cannabinoid testing because of rampant abuse by Soldiers,
in late 2013 through early 2014 the Army incorporated synthetic cannabinoid testing into the
random drug screening process already in place to test for cocaine, THC, and all opiates
(Arnold, 2013).
Laboratory Analysis of Synthetic Cannabinoids in the Military. All evidence in support of
criminal investigations of MCIOs is sent to the Defense Forensic Science Center (DFSC) located
in Forest Park, Georgia. The DFSC is comprised of mainly civilian government employees who
are experts in trace evidence, entomology, firearms and toolmarks, latent print, drug chemistry,
digital evidence, and DNA/serology (Arnold, 2013). The DFSC provides the same services as
any traditional forensic laboratory and is accredited by the American Society of Crime
Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB-Legacy Program).
Forensic laboratory scientists and technicians conduct analysis of evidence, write formal reports,
and testify in military and civilian court proceedings (Arnold, 2013).

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY
Definition of Key Terms
• Apprehension. Depriving someone of his or her freedom of movement for the purpose of
ultimately releasing them on their own recognizance and not appear before a magistrate.
Military law enforcement officials only have apprehension, not statutory arrest authority;
therefore, in most Spice cases, they offender is apprehended and subsequently released back
to the unit on the same day (M.C.M., 2012).
• Arrest. Depriving someone of his or her freedom of movement for the purpose of not
releasing them until they have been before a magistrate who determines the severity of the
crime and makes a probable cause determination (M.C.M., 2012).
• Enlisted. Enlisted service members are defined as active-duty members of the United States'
military who hold the rank of E-1 through E-9. The ranks of E-1 through E-4 are considered
to be junior enlisted Soldiers who have approximately zero to four years of military service
(M.C.M., 2012). (E stands for enlisted)
• Juvenile. Within this study, the term juvenile will be the dependent child of a service member
under the age of 18 who are directly affected by the combat deployment of a caregiver.
• Officer. Within this study, military officers are defined as active-duty members of the United
States' military who hold the rank of W-1 through CW5 (Warrant Officer 1 and Chief Warrant
Officer 5) and O-1 through O-10 (2nd Lieutenant through General). The ranks of 2nd
lieutenant through Captain (O-3) are considered junior officers with approximately zero to
five years of active duty military service. The ranks of W-1 through CW3 (Chief Warrant
Officer 3) are considered junior warrant officer's with approximately four to five years of
military service.

• Military Installation/Fort. A reservation is land controlled by the United States' DoD that
house service members and their families (a typical city or county) (M.C.M., 2012).
• Service member. A service member is any person who enlists into the Armed Forces of the
United States of America and serves at least one day (M.C.M., 2012).
• Recidivism. The reoccurrence of criminal behavior.
• Synthetic Cannabinoid/Spice. A man-made compound created to mimic the affects of
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient found in marijuana. There are currently
five compounds placed on the controlled substance act. Act. These substances are JHW-018,
JWH-073, JWH-200, CP-47,497, and CP-47-497 C8 (DEA, 2014).
• Military Treatment Facility. Military term used for a common hospital.
• Offense Code. An alphanumeric code placed on top of final CID ROI in order for a researcher
or higher headquarters to be able to identify the crime investigated by CID quickly and
accurately. Mainly used in criminal intelligence analysis.
Study Population. After obtaining all final ROIs from the CID and reviewing written voluntary
statements made by the subjects/suspects, the author determined the incident location, military
rank, race, and gender of the military offender. There were civilian offenders in the ROIs;
however, they were not analyzed as this data did not support the hypotheses or research
questions of this work. Through the author's experiences, civilian offenders are apprehended
when they try to gain access into the military installation, and their motor vehicles are searched
and Spice is found. In addition, civilians are apprehended when a search of his or her person is
conducted, and Spice is discovered by military law enforcement officers. This unit of analysis
will be accounted for and calculated in the total number of incidents the CID investigated as this
will be correlative for manpower concerns and the overall prevalence of the crime.

Data Collection. The author obtained all ROIs and military police reports (MPRs) from the
Provost Marshal Offices (PMOs) of Forts Bragg, NC and Bliss, TX via written Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) request from the United States Army Crime Records Center (USACRC)
located in Quantico, VA from January 2011 through December 2012. The USACRC is the
central repository for all Army military law enforcement matters. The CID investigates all felony
level crime and each installation's PMO has a Military Police Investigation (MPI) section that
investigates misdemeanor level crime. Upon receipt of all final ROIs, the author divided the final
reports by military installation, and subsequently began the process of content analysis by data
mining/extracting data from the reports by the unit of analysis (individual military offender
cohort) by gender, race, military rank, offense type (possession/use/distribution of synthetic
cannabinoids), and whether the offense occurred on or off the military installation. This data was
placed and filtered in a Microsoft Office Excel® spreadsheet for ease of manipulation,
documentation, and data storage.
By placing the aforementioned data in a Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet, the author
accurately, efficiently, and effectively recorded data anomalies which decreased the chance of
human error during the "calculation" phase of content analysis which increased reliability and
added validity to the work (Piccoli, Ahmad, & Rami, 2000). Utilizing Microsoft Excel® further
provided the author to quickly compose tables in support of this project (Dougherty, 2005).
Storing and arranging the mined data allowed the author increased statistical likelihood of
answering this work's three hypotheses.
Hypothesis #1: Because of the societal view that synthetic cannabinoid use is conceptualized as
less "illegal" than traditional marijuana use, Soldiers are more likely to use or possess it more
often than other illegal drugs currently available.

Hypothesis#2: Synthetic cannabinoid investigations make up the majority (over 50%) of the
aggregate drug caseload of larger CID offices that results in the need to efficiently target and
control synthetic cannabinoid offenders.
Hypothesis#3: The majority of offenders will be Caucasian, male, and lower ranking (junior)
Soldiers.
Hypothesis #1 was answered by reading the final ROIs' narrative section and determining the
subject's/suspect's motive. A column on the Excel® spreadsheet was added and titled "Used
marijuana before synthetic cannabinoid", and the subsequent data entry responses were "N" for
no, Y" for yes, and "N/M" for not mentioned.
Hypothesis#2 was answered by subtracting the total number of CID drug synthetic cannabinoid
ROIs of the aforementioned installations from the total aggregate caseloads from 2011-2013.
The author estimated synthetic cannabinoid investigations will comprise at least, if not more,
than 50 percent of the total aggregate caseload.
Hypothesis#3 was answered by manipulating and sorting data located in an Excel® spreadsheet
after the columns of race, gender, and rank of the offenders were placed in the spreadsheet,
separated by military installation and subsequently analyzed/illustrated by tables by military
installation.
Operationalization of Key Variables
The variables in this work were quantifiably measured by the actual occurrence of
incidents that occurred both on and off the identified military installations by the appropriate
offense code. The FOIA request submitted by the author requested all the aforementioned
installations CID final reports that contain the keywords "spice," "synthetic cannabinoid," or "fail
to obey general order-synthetic cannabinoid." Offense codes 5Y2B0, 5L2C, 5L2D2, and 5L2F

were the offense codes for such reports as they identified the use, possession, and distribution of
Spice.
Dependent Variables. How often offenders used/possessed synthetic cannabinoids while in the
military; percentage of total drug caseload there was in each local CID office of Forts Bragg and
Bliss.
Independent Variables. Individual offender's ideals, values, past drug history, availability of
synthetic cannabinoids off the military installation, which banned synthetic analog appeared
more often in reports if subject waived rights and confessed.
Assumption and Limitations
The work of Bebarta, Ramirez, and Varney (2012) states "due to the inability to detect
Spice on routine urine drug screens, easy accessibility online and in local stores, and the 'legal
high' it provides, it is appealing to the military communities" (p. 496). This project bridged the
gap of knowledge military law enforcement officials have of Spice and offered an external and
internal evaluation of Spice investigations conducted by the CID.

CHAPTER IV: RESULTS
Fort Bliss (2011)
The Fort Bliss CID office serves a military community composed of the actual military
base, zip code 79916 and the White Sands Missile Range, zip code 88002. In 2011, there were
approximately 32,500 Soldiers, 45,000 service member family members, and 10, 660
Department of the Army civilian employees (U.S. Census, 2012). The Fort Bliss CID office's
area of operation is also comprised of eight counties in west Texas, and the southern region of
the state of New Mexico. There were 442 total drug investigations conducted by the Fort Bliss
CID office in 2011 and two of the 442 investigation were investigated by the MPI section. Even
though the CID now conducts all drug investigations, in 2011 the MPI were empowered to
conduct drug investigations of marijuana only. As of February 16, 2011, CID assumed all
marijuana investigations as illustrated in Table 1.
A review of the ROIs and MPRs from Fort Bliss in 2011 indicated there were 23 opiate,
162 marijuana, 12 dangerous drug, 39 hallucinogens, 127 cocaine, 19 Spice, 54 synthetic
cathinone "bath salt," and four "other" drug investigations (see Table 1).

Table 1. Total Number of Drug Cases by Drug Type
Category ROI MPR Total
Opiates 23 0 23
Marijuana 162 0 162
Dangerous Drugs 12 0 12
Hallucinogens 39 0 39
Other (Schedule IV-V) 4 0 4
Cocaine 127 0 127
Spice 19 0 19
Bath Salts 54 2 56
Total 440 2 442
Total Number of Drug Cases by Drug Type (Fort Bliss)
Note. Dangerous drugs encompassed all other category of drugs (i.e. steroids). This applies to
subsequent table data the following year as well.
A correlative analysis was conducted which correlated the subject of the investigation as
either military or civilian (see Table 2). A review of the reports indicated Fort Bliss had a total of
423 Soldier offenders and 19 civilian offenders.
Table 2. Investigations by Drug Type Committed by Soldiers and Civilians
Civilians
Category ROI MPR ROI MPR Total
Opiates 21 0 2 0 2
Marijuana 154 0 8 0 8
Dangerous Drugs 12 0 0 0 0
Hallucinogens 39 0 0 0 0
Other (Schedule IV-V) 4 0 0 0 0
Cocaine 126 0 1 0 1
Spice 16 0 3 0 3
Bath Salts 49 2 5 0 5
Total 421 2 19 0 19
Investigations by Drug Type Committed by Soldiers and Civilians (Fort Bliss)
Soldiers
Note. There were zero MPRs during this time period. This applies to subsequent table data the
following year as well.

This data was further broken down by drug type and offender (see Table 3).
Table 3. Military vs Civilian Offender
Category Soldiers Civilians
Opiates 21 2
Marijuana 154 8
Dangerous Drugs 12 0
Hallucinogens 39 0
Other (Schedule IV-V) 4 0
Cocaine 126 1
Spice 16 3
Bath Salts 51 5
Total 423 19
Military vs Civilian Offender (Drug Type) (Fort Bliss)
Note. Civilian offenders were not analyzed as a unit of analysis when determining the prevalence
of synthetic cannabinoid use and possession in this work.
Investigations were analyzed by the military offender's rank and by drug type (see Table
4).

Table 4. Total Military Offenders by Rank and Drug Type
Category E1-E2 E3-E4 E5-E6 E7-E9 W1-W2 W3-W5 O1-O2 O3-O4 O5-O10
Opiates 5 9 6 1 0 0 0 0 0
Marijuana 47 97 10 0 0 0 0 0 0
Dangerosu Drugs 3 4 4 0 1 0 0 0 0
Hallucinogens 10 27 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
Other (Schedule IV-V) 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0
Cocaine 39 69 18 0 0 0 0 0 0
Spice 6 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bath Salts 15 35 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 125 253 42 1 1 0 0 1 0
Total Military Offenders by Rank and Drug Type (Fort Bliss)
Note. E-1 through E-4 are considered junior enlisted Soldiers, W-1 through W-3 are considered
junior warrant officers, and O-1 through O-3 are considered junior officers. This applies to
Investigations were analyzed by the military offender's age, gender, and by drug type (see
Table 5).
Table 5. Total Military Offenders by Gender and Age
Category 18-20 21-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55 & Over
Opiates 1 6 2 4 2 1 0 0 0
Marijuana 18 54 43 6 12 3 0 0 0
Hallucinogens 5 23 3 2 0 0 0 0 0
Cocaine 18 52 29 9 6 1 3 0 0
Spice 5 7 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
Bath Salts 8 24 11 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 56 170 93 25 22 5 3 0 0
Total Military Offenders by Genderand Age (Male) (Fort Bliss)

Category 18-20 21-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55 & Over
Opiates 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0
Marijuana 5 7 4 1 1 0 0 0 0
DangerosuDrugs 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0
Cocaine 1 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0
Spice 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
BathSalts 5 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 13 15 10 4 3 3 0 0 0
Total Military Offenders by Genderand Age (Female) (Fort Bliss)
Note. Civilian offenders were not accounted for in this study. This applies to subsequent table
data the following year as well.
In 2011, there were 76 subjects who were identified as recidivists (two or more
incidents); of the 76 recidivists, the most common disciplinary sanction taken was non-judicial
punishment in the form of a "field grade article 15," also referred to as just an "Article 15." An
Article 15 is a form of administrative punishment in which the military offender pleads guilty of
having committed a crime as defined in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (M.C.M., 2012).
With this plea, there is usually a forfeiture in pay for a set time frame, a reduction in rank of at
least one rank, and some form extra duty (hard labor) to be performed after the hours of 5:00
P.M. There were 29 offenders who received non-judicial punishment for their first drug
investigation in 2011 went on to commit a subsequent drug crime within the same year. Of these
29 recidivists who received non-judicial punishment, six offenders went on to commit a third
drug crime in 2011 and again received the sanction of an Article 15. Just two repeat offenders
committed a fourth drug crime and two committed six drug crimes in 2011.
This project identified 10 offenders with three or more offenses; the most common drug
of choice was marijuana, with eight of 10 offenders committing the offense of wrongful use of
marijuana at least once. The second most common drug used was cocaine, with five of the 10

offenders committing the offense of wrongful use of cocaine at least once. Analysis was
conducted in order to determine the drugs of choice found in 2011 Fort Bliss drug ROIs (see
Table 6).
Table 6. Drugs of Choice for Military and Civilian Offenders
Category Use Possession Distribution Manufacture Paraphernalia
Opiates 15 8 0 0 0
Other (Scheule IV-V) 2 0 2 0 0
Cocaine 118 9 0 0 0
Spice 4 15 0 0 0
Total 300 138 4 0 0
Drugs of Choice for Military and Civilian Offenders (2011) (Fort Bliss)
Note. Use of synthetic cannabinoids was only calculated when an offender confessed to ingesting
synthetic cannabinoids as urine testing was not available during this study period. This applies to
Hot Spots of Synthetic Cannabinoid Investigations-Fort Bliss. A review of the ROIs from
Fort Bliss initiated in 2011 disclosed problem areas included commercial establishments such as
dance/night clubs, residential neighborhoods (on and off post), and street corners known for drug
trafficking (on and off post). The majority of establishments were located within a 15 miles
radius immediately outside of the exclusive federal jurisdiction of the Fort Bliss military
installation (see Table 7). This study clearly indicates the need for a cooperative/joint focus
paradigm shift in drug investigations around Fort Bliss. Synthetic cannabinoids were just
beginning to make its way into the illegal drug trade in 2011 as evident in the literature review
and in practical analysis conducted of the ROIs.

Table 7. Possible Saturation Patrol and Target Locations
On/Off Post Establishment Miles from Post
Off Dream's Cabaret 14.1
Off Best Food Mart 2.8
Off Foxy's Gentlemen's Club 7.9
Off Club 101 7.9
Off The Old Plantation Night Club 7.1
Off The Black Planet Peal Night Club 7.4
Off Peoria Night Club 9.5
Off Jaguar's Gentleman's Club 11.8
Off Krush Stop 0.8
Off Cool Arrows 8.5
Possible Saturation Patrol and Target Locations (Fort Bliss)
Note. Names of these establishments could be currently changed due to criminal activity
documented in the files of the CID. This applies to subsequent table data the following year as
well.

Fort Bragg (2011)
In 2011, the Fort Bragg military reservation was comprised of approximately 49,756
active duty Soldiers, 3,354 National Guard/Army Reserve Soldiers, 75,629 family members, and
14,125 Department of the Army civilians (U.S. Census, 2012). Fort Bragg is located adjacent
Interstate Highway 95, which is the gateway to major cities such as Washington, D.C. and
Miami, FL. The Fort Bragg CID office's area of responsibility encompasses the entire state of
North Carolina. There were a total of 636 drug related investigations. Of those investigations,
216 were drug related ROIs that reported positive urinalyses not including marijuana; there were
249 ROIs that reported positive urinalyses of marijuana use. The total number of drug related
cases, both MPRs and ROIs by drug type (see Table 8).
Opiates 34 0 34
Marijuana 259 64 323
Hallucinogens 5 0 5
Cocaine 204 1 205
Spice 32 0 32
Bath Salts 5 0 5
Total 570 66 636
Total Number of Drug Cases by Drug Type (Fort Bragg)
A correlative analysis was conducted which correlated the subject of the investigation
identifying them as either a military or civilian offender (see Table 9). A review of the reports
indicated Fort Bragg had a total of 714 Soldier offenders and 31 civilian offenders.

Civilians
Category ROI MPR ROI MPR Total
Opiates 39 0 3 0 3
Marijuana 291 74 18 2 20
Other (Schedule IV-V) 12 1 0 0 0
Cocaine 215 1 6 0 6
Spice 43 0 0 0 0
Total 634 80 29 2 31
Investigations by Drug Type Committed by Soldiers and Civilians (Fort Bragg)
Soldiers
This data was further broken down by drug type (See Table 10).
Table 10. Military vs Civilian Offender (Drug Type)
Category Soldiers Civilians
Opiates 38 3
Marijuana 332 20
Hallucinogens 5 1
Cocaine 204 7
Spice 38 0
Bath Salts 7 0
Total 662 32
Military vs Civilian Offender (Drug Type) (Fort Bragg)
Investigations were further analyzed by the military offender's rank and by drug type (see
Table 11).

Category E1-E2 E3-E4 E5-E6 E7-E9 W1-W2 W3-W5 O1-O2 O3-O4 O5-O10 Total
Opiates 15 12 8 2 0 0 0 1 0 38
Marijuana 196 121 12 0 0 0 1 2 0 332
Dangerosu Drugs 13 7 3 2 0 0 0 1 0 26
Hallucinogens 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
Other (Schedule IV-V) 3 6 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 12
Cocaine 105 72 25 0 1 0 0 0 1 204
Spice 11 25 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 38
Bath Salts 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7
Total 350 246 54 5 1 0 1 4 1 662
Total Military Offenders by Rank and Drug Type (Fort Bragg)
Table 12).
Table 12. Total Military Offenders by Gender and Age (Male vs Female)
Category 18-20 21-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55 & Over
Opiates 1 14 11 6 2 1 0 0 0
Marijuana 29 153 76 16 1 2 0 1 0
Cocaine 19 93 59 18 8 2 2 1 0
Spice 5 28 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bath Salts 6 10 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 62 315 163 44 15 5 2 2 0
Total Military Offenders by Genderand Age (Male) (Fort Bragg)

Category 18-20 21-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55 & Over
Opiates 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0
Marijuana 4 15 7 2 2 0 0 0 0
Cocaine 1 4 7 2 1 0 0 1 0
Spice 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
BathSalts 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 7 22 15 5 3 1 0 1 0
Total Military Offenders by Genderand Age (Female) (Fort Bragg)
In 2011, there were 58 Soldier recidivists identified in the ROIs and MPRs received by
the USACRC. Of the 58 recidivists, the most common disciplinary sanction imposed was "no
action taken." There were 12 offenders who received the disciplinary sanction of "no action
taken" for their first drug investigation in 2011 who went on to commit a subsequent drug crime
within the same year. Of the 12 recidivists identified above, only one offender went on to
commit a third drug crime in 2011. Analysis was conducted of the drugs of choice in the same
manner as that of Fort Bliss in 2011. Synthetic cannabinoid investigations were analyzed which
yielded the following results: two use, 30 possession, and two distribution investigations were
found. This is a dramatic difference between Fort Bliss's number of synthetic cannabinoid
investigations. The analysis conducted indicates that synthetic cannabinoid products were
favored by more Soldiers stationed at Fort Bragg than Fort Bliss. Fort Bragg's proximity to
Interstate 95 and its higher population are attributed to the greater number of investigations
conducted by Fort Bragg's CID office.
Hot Spots of Synthetic Cannabinoid Investigations-Fort Bragg. A review of the ROIs and
MPRs from Fort Bragg initiated in 2011 disclosed problem areas included commercial
establishments such as dance/night clubs and smoke shops. A review of the voluntary statements

(confessions) by offenders indicated service members purchased Spice from commercial
establishments. A review of offender statements indicated that civilian drug dealers used these
venues to distribute synthetic cannabinoids as there was a large population of Soldiers who had
steady incomes to purchase illicit drugs. The majority of establishments were located within a 15
miles radius immediately outside of the exclusive federal jurisdiction of the Fort Bragg military
installation (see Table 13). This study clearly indicates the need for a cooperative/joint focus
paradigm shift in drug investigations around Fort Bragg between military and civilian law
enforcement officers. Synthetic cannabinoids were just beginning to make its way into the illegal
drug trade in 2011 as evident in the literature review and in practical analysis conducted of the
ROIs and MPRs.
Table 13. Possible Saturation Patrol and Target Locations
On/Off Post Establishment Miles from Post
Off Sparky's Night Club 9
Off Big Apple Night Club 6
Off The Smoke Shop 6
Possible Saturation Patrol and Target Locations (Fort Bragg)

Fort Bliss (2012)
In 2012, Fort Bliss had 42,500 active duty and Army reserve service member, 45,500
family members, and 10,600 Department of the Army civilians working on the military
installation (U.S. Census, 2013). Content analysis conducted on Fort Bliss's 2012 ROIs indicated
a drastic increase in synthetic cannabinoid investigations from 19 to 127. Fort Bliss's marijuana
investigations decreased from 162 to 155 (see Table 14).
Opiates 51 0 51
Marijuana 155 0 155
Hallucinogens 26 0 26
Cocaine 101 0 101
Spice 127 0 127
Bath Salts 13 0 13
Total 504 0 504
Total Number of Drug Cases by Drug Type (Fort Bliss)
Note. The CID assumed responsibility for all marijuana investigations at this point.
Analysis indicated the main offender for synthetic cannabinoid investigation was the
Soldier offender, not the civilian offender. There were zero investigations of civilians for
possession or distribution of synthetic cannabinoids (see Table 15).

Civilians
Category ROI MPR ROI MPR
Opiates 43 0 5 0
Marijuana 112 0 56 0
Dangerous Drugs 25 0 1 0
Hallucinogens 25 0 0 0
Other (Schedule IV-V) 3 0 0 0
Cocaine 96 0 1 0
Spice 125 0 0 0
Bath Salts 12 0 0 0
Total 441 0 63 0
Investigations by Drug Type Committed by Soldiers and Civilians (Fort Bliss)
Soldiers
Investigations were analyzed by the military offender's rank and by drug type (see
Table 16). While conducting data mining, of particular interest is the fact that Soldiers in the
rank of E-3 and E-4 were the primary offenders in synthetic cannabinoid and marijuana
investigations.
Opiates 4 27 6 2 0 0 0 2 2
Marijuana 32 73 6 0 1 0 0 0 0
Cocaine 21 61 13 0 0 0 0 0 0
Spice 22 95 8 1 0 0 0 0 0
Bath Salts 5 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 90 306 36 3 1 0 1 2 2
Total Military Offenders by Rank and Drug Type (Fort Bliss)

Table 17).
Table 17. Total Military Offenders by Gender and Age
Category 18-20 21-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55 & Over
Opiates 0 3 5 5 6 0 0 0 2
Marijuana 8 15 41 11 7 1 0 1 0
Cocaine 0 5 37 12 6 1 1 1 0
Spice 0 23 52 9 1 0 0 0 0
Bath Salts 0 1 6 1 0 0 0 0 0
Total 8 54 162 41 21 3 1 2 2
Total Military Offenders by Genderand Age (Male) (Fort Bliss)
Category 18-20 21-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55 & Over
Opiates 0 1 0 1 4 0 0 0 0
Marijuana 0 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 0
Cocaine 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 0
Spice 0 0 5 2 1 0 0 0 0
BathSalts 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Total 1 2 11 9 7 2 0 0 0
Total Military Offenders by Genderand Age (Female) (Fort Bliss)
The primary drug of choice in 2012 for Soldiers assigned to Fort Bliss was marijuana
followed closely by synthetic cannabinoids and cocaine (see Table 18). There was an increase in
investigations involving the possession of synthetic cannabinoids instead of use. This can be
attributed to the fact that cannabinoid drug testing was not yet available.

Table 18. Drugs of Choice for Military and Civilian Offenders
Category Use Possession Distribution Manufacture Paraphernalia
Opiates 36 9 2 0 0
Other (Scheule IV-V) 1 1 1 0 0
Cocaine 93 1 4 0 0
Spice 8 114 2 0 0
Drugs of Choice for Military and Civilian Offenders (2011) (Fort Bliss)
Hot Spots of Synthetic Cannabinoid Investigations-Fort Bliss (2012). A review of the ROIs
from Fort Bliss initiated in 2012 disclosed the same problem areas found in 2011 investigations
with night/strip clubs being a target priority and a major gateway to synthetic cannabinoids. The
majority of establishments were located within a 25 miles radius immediately outside of the
exclusive federal jurisdiction of the Fort Bliss military installation. Synthetic cannabinoid
investigations were on the rise in Fort Bliss during in 2012. Dream's Cabaret, Foxy's Gentleman's
Club, Club 101, Jaguar's Gentleman's Club, and Cool Arrows were identified as major "hot
spots" during analysis in 2012.

Fort Bragg (2012)
In 2012, the Fort Bragg military reservation was comprised of approximately 51,275
active duty Soldiers, 4,536 National Guard/Army Reserve Soldiers, 79,624 family members, and
15,160 Department of the Army civilians (U.S. Census, 2013). There were a total of 632 drug
related investigations. Of those investigations, 143 were drug related ROIs that reported positive
urinalyses not including marijuana; there were 303 ROIs that reported positive urinalyses of
marijuana use. These investigations were subsequently analyzed and quantified during the
process of content analysis (see Table 19). Analysis showed that the number of synthetic
cannabinoid investigations nearly tripled in Fort Bragg in 2012 going from only 32 in 2011 to
148 in 2012 with the Soldier being the primary offender.
Category ROI MPR
Opiates 50 0
Marijuana 303 0
Hallucinogens 2 0
Cocaine 102 0
Spice 148 0
Bath Salts 1 0
Total 632 0
Total Number of Drug Cases by Drug Type (Fort Bragg)
Investigations were further analyzed by the military offender's rank and by drug type (see
Table 20). In 2012, the primary offender of synthetic cannabinoid investigation held the rank of
E-1 through E-4, junior enlisted, which supports analysis of the review of the literature on

synthetic cannabinoids that adolescents and teenagers favor cannabinoids over older offenders
(Bhatty & Wu, 2013).
Opiates 21 12 9 2 0 0 0 1 0
Marijuana 195 203 2 0 0 0 1 2 0
Cocaine 106 45 12 0 1 0 0 0 1
Spice 55 41 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bath Salts 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 399 307 32 5 1 0 1 4 1
Total Military Offenders by Rank and Drug Type (Fort Bragg)
Table 21). The Caucasian male was the primary offender.
Table 21. Total Military Offenders by Gender and Age (Male vs Female)
Category 18-20 21-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55 & Over
Opiates 2 14 9 6 2 0 0 0 0
Marijuana 40 165 65 13 1 2 0 1 0
Cocaine 19 101 62 15 8 0 0 0 0
Spice 6 45 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bath Salts 0 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 73 338 156 37 15 2 0 1 0
Total Military Offenders by Genderand Age (Male) (Fort Bragg)

Category 18-20 21-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55 & Over
Opiates 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Marijuana 4 15 5 2 2 0 0 0 0
Cocaine 2 5 7 1 1 0 0 1 0
Spice 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
BathSalts 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 8 23 12 3 4 0 0 1 0
Total Military Offenders by Genderand Age (Female) (Fort Bragg)
In 2012, there were 62 Soldier recidivists identified in the ROIs and MPRs received by
the USACRC. Of the 62 recidivists, the most common disciplinary sanction imposed was "no
action taken." There were 21 offenders who received the disciplinary sanction of "no action
taken" for their first drug investigation in 2012 who went on to commit a subsequent drug crime
within the same year. There was only one repeat offender who committed more than three drug
crimes in 2012. Synthetic cannabinoid investigations were analyzed which yielded the following
results: three use, 59 possession, and zero distribution investigations were found. This is a
dramatic difference between Fort Bliss's number of synthetic cannabinoid investigations and of
particular interest, there were no investigations of distribution of synthetic cannabinoids which
adds validity to the review of the literature in that smoke shops primarily distribute synthetic
cannabinoids.
Hot Spots of Synthetic Cannabinoid Investigations-Fort Bragg (2012). A review of the ROIs
from Fort Bragg initiated in 2012 disclosed problem areas included commercial establishments
such as dance/night clubs and smoke shops. This was a common trend found during content
analysis and indicates the need for a collaborative civilian/military law enforcement suppression
effort. Four controlled purchases were conducted by the CID of Fort Bragg on a joint basis with

local law enforcement agencies. A review of voluntary statements indicated service members
primarily purchased synthetic cannabinoids from commercial establishments. The majority of
establishments were located within a 15 miles radius immediately outside of the exclusive
federal jurisdiction of the Fort Bragg military installation. This analysis clearly indicates that the
Fort Bragg CID concentrated efforts to battle synthetic cannabinoid use and possession of Army
service members. Sparky's night club and the Big Apple were the primary commercial
establishments mentioned in offender testimony as in 2011.

CHAPTER V: DISCUSSION
Research Questions. The following are the research questions that were created during the onset
of this project:
1. What percentage of caseload of synthetic cannabinoid investigations make the CID gross
aggregate drug caseload in the larger installation of Forts Bragg and Bliss?
2. What is the rate of recidivism among military offenders?
3. Are the majority of incident occurring off or on the military installation?
4. How much synthetic cannabinoids does the average offender purchase during one transaction?
Answer to Research Question #1
Research question number one was answered during this project In 2011, synthetic
cannabinoid investigations comprised 0.04% of the total drug caseload of the Fort Bliss CID
office and 0.05% of the Fort Bragg office; in 2012, synthetic cannabinoid investigations
comprised 39% of the total drug caseload of the Fort Bliss CID office and 42% of the Fort Bragg
office.
Research question number two was answered during this project. The recidivism rate was
less than 1%.
Research question number three was answered during this project. The majority (96%) of
synthetic cannabinoid reported incidents occurred on the military installation. This can be
attributed to the offense of possession of synthetic cannabinoids as this was investigated more
often than the use and distribution of synthetic cannabinoids as urine testing was not available in
2011 and 2012.

Research question number four was not answered during this project. During content
analysis, the author noted a lack of asking the specific question of "how many packets of Spice
did you buy?" The lack of this specific question resulted in the author not being able to answer
the fourth research question of this project.
Hypotheses
Hypothesis #1: Because of a societal view that synthetic cannabinoid use is conceptualized as
less "illegal" than traditional marijuana use, Soldiers are more likely to use or possess it more
often than other illegal drugs currently available.
Hypothesis number one was answered during this project. Content analysis indicated that
the 18-25 year male Soldier conceptualized synthetic cannabinoids as minimized to their
marijuana counterpart; this was noted during written voluntary statement review and analysis.
Hypothesis#2: Synthetic cannabinoid investigations make up a majority (over 50%) of the
aggregate drug caseload of larger CID offices that result in the need to efficiently target and
control synthetic cannabinoid offenders.
Hypothesis number two was answered during the project. In 2011, synthetic cannabinoid
investigations comprised 0.04% of the total drug caseload of the Fort Bliss CID office and 0.05%
of the Fort Bragg office; in 2012, synthetic cannabinoid investigations comprised 39% of the
total drug caseload of the Fort Bliss CID office and 42% of the Fort Bragg office. Synthetic
cannabinoid investigations increased greatly in 2012; however, marijuana was still the favored
drug of choice for the military drug offender.
Hypothesis#3: The majority of offenders will be Caucasian, male, and lower ranking Soldiers.

Joshua Adams-Thesis

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