'Spice' Use Lands Marines in Hot Water

A pair of Marines stationed at Camp Johnson in Jacksonville, N.C., could be discharged from the Corps for using the legal herbal drug 'Spice,' which is said to provide a high similar to that of marijuana.

The Jacksonville Daily News reported Jan. 24 that Pfc. Matthew Clark and Pfc. Dijon Lawless bought the herbal blend at a local tobacco store and smoked it. “If I knew that it was illegal for us to be smoking this, I would never have bought it,” Clark said.

Initially, the two Marines were charged with failing to obey a direct order, for smoking in their barracks, and for compromising duty readiness. Later, however, they were informed that they could be court-martialed and dishonorably discharged.

Some Marine Corps bases, such as those in Okinawa and Camp Pendelton, have policies prohibiting Marines from using Spice. But there's no explicit policy in place at many East Coast bases.