New York City concluded 2024 with a series of disturbing subway incidents connected by a common thread: the state’s decision to legalize marijuana.
Shortly before Christmas, Debrina Kawam, a troubled woman from New Jersey, was set on fire on an F train and tragically burned to death, allegedly by Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala.
Zapeta-Calil, who had been deported in 2018 but later returned and was residing in a Brooklyn homeless shelter, was known to have a habit of chain-smoking K2, a synthetic cannabinoid that was linked to erratic and violent behavior.
K2, a substance made of plant material sprayed with hallucinogenic chemicals, had become a problem in New York City, leading to incidents of extreme behavior and hospitalizations. The city had previously cracked down on K2, making its production illegal in 2012 and banning its sale in 2015.
However, the legalization of marijuana in 2019 inadvertently contributed to the reduction in K2 use, as researchers found that more permissive cannabis laws had unintended benefits in curbing the dangerous synthetic drug.
Despite the push for marijuana legalization, K2 continued to have a presence in the city, with incidents like the murder of Christina Yuna Lee and the subway outburst of Jordan Neely highlighting the dangers of the drug.
Following marijuana legalization, the availability of K2 increased, with illegal “smoke shops” popping up across the city selling unlicensed marijuana and synthetic drugs under the counter.
While marijuana advocates tout its calming effects, concerns remain about its impact on mental health and its potential role as a gateway drug to harder substances.
Incidents like the subway shove in Chelsea on the last day of 2024, where the culprit’s father attributed his behavior to frequent pot smoking, raised questions about the consequences of the city’s approach to drug use.
While it may be challenging to directly link specific crimes to the use of legal marijuana or synthetic cannabinoids, the prevalence of drug-related incidents in New York City prompts a reevaluation of the current drug policies.
Seth Barron’s upcoming book, “Weaponized,” is set to be released in 2025. Adapted from City Journal.
