WASHINGTON — Several people are hospitalized after smoking synthetic marijuana near a D.C. homeless shelter Friday.

Several people who smoked synthetic marijuana near the Community for Creative Non-Violence shelter located at 425 2nd St. in Northwest Friday afternoon, turned ill a few hours later, says D.C. Fire and EMS Spokesman Tim Wilson.

D.C. Fire and EMS received calls about people needing medical attention around 2 p.m., Wilson says.

Emergency crews transported at least seven people to an area hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries. A few other people were evaluated on the scene.

Officials have not released any additional details about the incident.

Synthetic marijuana is a drug that mimics the effects of marijuana.