1. The first paragraph of a news article should answer the questions who, what, where and when. List the who, what, where and when of this news item. (NOTE: The remainder of a news article provides details on the why and/or how.)

2. Why did NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio sign the bill into law?

3. a) What is synthetic marijuana?
b) What do these chemicals do?

4. a) Why is synthetic marijuana extremely dangerous?
b) List the side effects people who use this drug experience.

5. What warning did Dr. Hillary Kunins of the NYC Department of Health have for people who use this drug?

6. How many people in NYC (and in the U.S.) have gone to the emergency room, called poison control centers (the CDC) or died after using synthetic marijuana?

7. a) How effective do you think the NYC law will be in reducing/eliminating the sale of synthetic marijuana?
b) Re-read para. 16-19. Do you think the government could or should do anything more to prevent people from using this substance?
c) There is no doubt that this is a deadly substance. What do you think would be the most effective way to get young people to stay away from synthetic marijuana?