Colo. to Probe Deaths Possibly Linked to Synthetic Marijuana

Reports of 75 illnesses and three possible deaths

The state health department has launched a wide probe into a recent spate of illnesses from synthetic marijuana products, including whether three recent deaths are connected.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said it is teaming with local health agencies, hospitals and the federal Centers for Disease Control on the investigation, after reports of about 75 recent illnesses.

"Several individuals were in intensive care, and three deaths are being investigated as possibly associated," said a release by the state agency.

The CDC is sending four people to help with the epidemiological probe, which will look at medical charts of patients reporting the symptoms and study toxicology results.