article_snippet.sent: (New York state authorities have issued a health alert following a dramatic spike in hospital visits for synthetic marijuana-related emergencies.
article_snippet.sent: Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday that more than 160 patients in nine days have been rushed to hospitals across the state for adverse reactions to synthetic cannabinoid, known as "spice" or "K2."
article_snippet.sent: The recent surge is not isolated in New York; other states across the country have noticed similar trends.
article_snippet.sent: the New York State Department of Health issued a statement last week acknowledging a rise of synthetic marijuana usage and said there had been 98 overdoses suspected to be linked with "spice" in the previous month.
highlights_snippet.sent: New York reports 160 hospitalizations related to synthetic marijuana .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a health alert .