It's a cheap, synthetic drug called IZMS and according to police a lot of the users are kids and young adults. 

When Brandon White started using IZMS, he was told they are legal.

“I just got it at a couple of convenience stores in North York, you just walk in say you want them, and then they just give 'em to you and pay them, that's its no id nothing,” says White.

IZMS mimic the high of marijuana and is usually rolled and smoked like a joint. A package starts at $10 for just over a gram. Manufactures argue the product is both legal and safe.

“The current ingredients in the main three products are JWH-018, 122, 073 and those are just three different cannabinoids that have a pretty long history of use within the US, UK and have shown they are pretty low toxicity and low potential for harm,” says Adam Wookey, CEO of Purepillz.

Health Canada warns there are lots of risks with side effects including nausea, vomiting, anxiety, chest pain, hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts.

“If you look in Canada you will see that there are no deaths, and no significant lasting injuries that have been caused by this product,” says Wookey, who disagrees with Health Canada.

IZMS can be bought online and are also sold in some convenience stores and head shops. Envirohemp used to the sell the synthetic drug but recently pulled it from their shelves.

“We took it off our shelves roughly 5-6 months ago because i guess someone called saying it's illegal to have on the shelves because nothing was proven to say that it was safe,” says employee Stacey Bader.

Some of Brandon’s friends have had bad experiences.

“Sometimes they are just puking their guts out for hours on end - some pass out, black out and fall over...sometimes even one time my friend got physical with one of us and someone had to knock him out, we had to carry him home.”

Some synthetic drug companies label their product as not for human consumption. They do this to avoid any potential legal trouble, knowing people will use the product anyway to get high.

On the Purpillz website those warnings say "we do not recommend that you operate any vehicles or machinery while using any of these products." the website also says the company accepts no liability to any users of these products should any damages or injury be caused by use of these products."

While manufactures insist IZMS are legal, police argue they are not. Part 2 of The High Life will take a closer look at if what people are smoking is actually legal.