People who ingest substances into their bodies need to know exactly what it is they are ingesting, but those who smoke the herbal incense known as 7H don’t necessarily know what they’re putting into their bodies and what side effects it will cause.

The 7H is a legal product sold as “potpourri.” Many people looking for a cheap, legal alternative to marijuana are smoking 7H, which can be bought here locally for around $25.

Although the product is legal, we believe, for several reasons, consideration should be given to making this an illegal product.

First and the most obvious is that it is an herbal incense and people aren’t supposed to smoke it.

Secondly, the side effects of smoking incense can simply be overwhelming. Those who smoke it can experience pain, confusion, hallucinations and paranoia. Patients say they see white dots, behave erratically, experience memory loss and see what is described as static.

Thirdly, it’s difficult to treat patients because no one knows exactly what’s in the incense. Doctors say it’s frustrating because it’s not like treating someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In the case of incense, they just don’t know exactly what they’re dealing with.

Finally, no one knows what the long-term side effects are because 7H hasn’t been around long. Many of those who are seeking an alternative to marijuana might see the packaging of 7H that says it is 100 percent legal in all 50 states and think that if it’s legal, then it can’t be harmful.

That’s simply not the case.

Representatives from The Medical Center at Bowling Green said they have had many cases lately, particularly younger individuals, under the influence of some sort of incense or bath salts.

This is troubling.

Bowling Green-Warren County Drug Task Force Director Tommy Loving said his agency isn’t sure 7H is legal because the agency doesn’t know what’s in it.

The agency purchased the product after hearing the complaints and learning about the hospital visits and sent it off to the Kentucky State Police lab for testing.

The testing will be able to tell what the product contains. If the KSP lab determines it is an illegal substance, arrests can be made. If it is not an illegal substance, but creates the problems Loving’s agency is hearing about, then it could work with the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy to have it declared an illegal substance.

We agree with Loving on both approaches and hope he is successful in efforts to push for a new law if it turns out this isn’t legal.

There are just too many unknowns, and the fact that younger people are putting themselves at risk is very disturbing.