Gov. Snyder Expected to Sign K2, Spice Ban into State Law on Tuesday
The statewide ban on the synthetic drugs would go into effect on July 1.
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Supporters of a statewide ban on K2 will see their mission accomplished today when Gov. Rick Snyder signs a package of bills banning the sale and use of the synthetic drugs in Michigan.
Passed by the House and Senate last week, these bills take several actions against the sale and use of K2, or Spice, in Michigan.
While one of the bills updates the list of chemicals used in the manufacture of these synthetic drugs and makes them illegal to possess and sell, another grants the state power to temporarily ban a substance if the director of the Michigan Department of Community Health considers it an imminent danger to public health. This allows health officials to react more quickly to the changing formulas of synthetic drugs.
The substance has been sold legally because it is marketed as herbal incense or potpourri and marked "not for human consumption." However, local law enforcement and community anti-drug coalitions have noticed a marked increase in its use among teens in recent years.
The sale of K2 has already been banned in Macomb County, with County Executive Mark Hackel and Macomb County Health and Community Services Director Steve Gold signing an order June 4 stating businesses caught selling K2, or any other synthetic drug risk a misdemeanor charge punishable by up to six months in jail or a $200 fine.
Until the state ban goes into effect, the Macomb County Sheriff's Office will continue using the county order to police the sale and use of K2 in Macomb.
And while some communities in the state have also passed ordinances banning K2, Macomb Township trustees decided at their June 13 meeting to wait and review the state law before enacting any township-specific ordinance regarding the substance.
For more information on K2, its origin and effects, visit Patch's Spice 101 page.
Jenny Whalen
8:53 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
How much impact do you think a state law will have on the sale/use of these drugs?
Dave
9:33 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
IMPACT.. you got to be kidding. This is a fun charade but when are they going to enforce the laws we already have that made this crap illegal the very first day it went on the market. [Section 333.7402 Creating, manufacturing, delivering, or possessing with intent to deliver counterfeit substance or controlled substance analogue intended for human consumption; applicability of section and certain federal provisions; violations; penalties.] That's just the start of the laws.
Now how bout we start enforcing it. This stuff can be used no other way except for human consumption. Breathing it in or smoking it is the same. It's being consumed even if used as directed on the packaging. Always was the instructions.. and since the inception it has been promoted as an imitation controlled substance. We didn't coin the term "synthetic" marijuana.. the manufacturers did. They wanted to pretend it was a controlled substance in order to make sales. That my friends is a criminal act. Now how bout we start arresting these murderers as soon as we can catch em? Just because they are now trillonaires doesn't put them above the law. It's time we quit wasting our politicians time and our tax dollars on more of this folly of a cat and mouse game. Arrest them now! They have been playing this game of Banning and changing for about 12 years now and it's time to just call an end to that game. Go after them for the laws they've already broken these past 4 years or so in the USA
Jenny Whalen
10:30 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Who has a better shot at enforcing these laws? A lot of Spice is manufactured outside the U.S. Should customs agents be the first line of defense, or will local police departments have more luck?
Dave
11:42 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
I had to leave for the day, but in answer to your question Jenny, there are agencies in charge of enforcing importation laws. The USDA regulates what i import from other countries as a breeder of vegetable seeds. They must get physosanitary certificates that state there are no invasive weeds mixed in. And those cost me alot of money, I import from over forty different countries. The USDA would have jurisdiction over the plant material used in these products too. The customs agents seize my shipments and destroy them if i don't have the proper paperwork.. they are the next line of defense. Then the postal inspectors have the final say.. whether paperwork is proper or not.. it's their discretion to destroy any shipment they don't know what it is. Same rules should apply for any plant products, and this is made from plants. As for saying "most" of this spice/k2 is being manufactured in other countries i'll disagree. I've seen dozens of these brands and only one had on it "made in china" The rest are all made here in the USA. Most state it on the labels..some don't say anything. It doesn't discount the laws of interstate commerce.. but it does exclude the customs and postal inspectors from being involved. Then since there is no question that this is being used as a drug.. the FDA would be in charge of regulating the marketing of this stuff. Should they bypass the system i'd say it's the CPA's job. But, It's all irrelevant though, It can be made in your basement.