A local coalition of men and fatherhood groups is fed up over stores that sell unhealthy, dangerous, substances to youth, because it is profitable and not illegal.
To that end, the coalition, led by members of the D.C. Fatherhood Coalition, 100 Fathers and Men on the Move will stage a protest at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4 in front of the Exxon gas station at 2651 Benning Road in Northeast. According to the coalition, the station sells to kids and is less than a block from four District Public Schools.
K2 (Spice), a synthetic form of marijuana, is among those substances, and is classified in the same category as heroin.
K2 is made from harsh chemicals that mimic the ingredients in marijuana, and the label on the packaging that the Spice is sold in, states that it is not for human consumption.
Legislation is currently being written to ban the sale of K2 in the District, and the D.C. Prevention Center is providing structured trainings and workshops to increase community knowledge, skills, and awareness of substance abuse trends like K2 and bath salts.
The DC Prevention Center for wards 5 and 6 is a collaborative venture in conjunction with the Department of Health (DOH), Addiction Prevention and Recovery Administration (APRA), and Sasha Bruce Youthwork -- the parent group for this initiative.
The Center is located at 1022 Maryland Ave. in Northeast in the Sasha Bruce House. This space was strategically selected because of its rich history as a safe haven for youth in the District.
