Products that are known as "synthetic marijuana" are appearing on Saskatchewan store shelves.

They're sold under a variety of names and have turned up across Canada in different kinds of retail stores.

The smokeable products give the user a high that's supposed to mimic pot, but in the U.S., they are being blamed for emergency room visits and dangerous side effects.

In Saskatoon, a store called Skunk Funk sells Spice Product, a synthetic marijuana that's sold as incense.

"Most people that purchase it are people in the workforce who are under scrutiny of drug testing inside the workplace," Skunk Funk owner Jeff Lundstrom said. Canadian health officials are warning people about the products, however.

Lundstrom agreed that unknown chemicals in synthetic marijuana raise concerns.

"The problem is, no one knows the long term effects of using this chemical," said Lundstrom, who is an advocate for marijuana legalization. "Obviously there is a problem with using chemicals in general. We all know they all have some sort of adverse side effects."