As many polls are showing the majority of Americans desire to legalize marijuana, one Kansas republican is focusing his efforts to ban anything that looks like marijuana. Legal synthetic weed, sold under many different brands, is made from dry herbs that are advertised to give similar effects of real marijuana without the legal risk. Kansas state Rep. Robert Olsen introduced a bill this week to ban a specific brand of synthetic weed called K2, which he believes poses a risk to kids.

According to Johnson County forensic scientist Jeremy Morris: “The effects of THC happen when the chemical binds with receptors in the user’s brain, like a key fitting into a lock. (K2’s active chemicals) are better keys then THC, and therefore, it takes less of them to get you high — and that high will last longer.” It’s hard to find any real testimonial of any of these products giving people much more than a headache or short buzz at best but they remain popular among those on parole or who otherwise are subjected to drug tests.

“Legal buds” have advertised in cannabis magazines as well as many marijuana websites for years, however many brands are now appearing more in local head shops which explains lawmakers new interest in the fake weed.