Washtenaw County to businesses: Stop selling K2-like products or face enforcement
The Washtenaw County health officer has issued a formal notice asking all businesses to immediately stop selling synthetic designer drugs, including synthetic cannabinoids like K2 and synthetic cathinones like bath salts.
The announcement comes after communities across southeast Michigan have taken action to confront the issue this week.
Businesses that choose to conform to the request can sign a pledge online and receive a decal to display in their business.
Washtenaw County Public Health has dedicated a portion of its website to the issue. The site outlines risks associated with synthetic designer drugs and resources available for people to get help.
The health department will not be sending out letters to businesses informing them of the notice, said Susan Ringler-Cerniglia, public information officer for Washtenaw County Public Health, explaining that word of mouth and media coverage will be used to spread the news.
People can report businesses that don’t conform to the request by calling the Environmental Health Division at (734) 222-3800.
Once a complaint is received, staff will visit the business and inform the management of the public health notice. The business will then be given 24 hours to remove the products.
Staff will then re-visit the merchant, Ringler-Cerniglia said, and issue a public health order to stop selling if the business has continued to sell K2 or other products.
Violation of a public health order is a criminal offense, punishable by prison time and a fine. Police would be called into enforce the order, she said.
Synthetic cannabinoids, also known as K2, Spice, incense and potpourri, are an inexpensive and legal substance used to get high.
Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com
Synthetic cannabinoids — commonly referred to as incense, herbal and potpourri — is known by several brand names, of which K2 and Spice are the most common.
Physical side effects from synthetic marijuana use include loss of control, seizures, hallucinations, vomiting and elevated heart rate and blood pressure.
There have been nine reported cases of ill effects from K2/Spice use in Washtenaw County since January, according to national poison control center data.
Negative publicity surrounding synthetic cannabinoid products has deterred many local businesses from selling the product already.
A meeting Wednesday of officials from the Washtenaw County Health Department, sheriff’s office and prosecutor’s office, as well as the county administrator developed the “carrot-and-stick” approach to confront the sale of synthetic cannabinoids in the area.
The decal plan is similar to one implemented in Oakland County last week.
The plan is something county administration felt pressured to implement locally as neighboring counties in southeast Michigan took action to ban the sale of synthetic cannabinoid products this week. Livingston County announced its ban Friday morning.
Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.
Comments
swcornell
Sun, Jun 10, 2012 : 1 p.m.
What we need to do is boycott any stores selling these products. Remember money (or lack there of) talks!
Diane
Sat, Jun 9, 2012 : 3:38 p.m.
Who is the manufacturer of this stuff? That's the people they should go after!
ordmad
Sat, Jun 9, 2012 : 4:24 a.m.
Not sure if this ban is legal. Since when does a county have this kind of authority? Probably betting no one will have the tamarity to it to court.
AAProgressive
Sat, Jun 9, 2012 : 1:19 a.m.
Ronald Reagan's "War on Drugs" has been a massive failure.
AAProgressive
Sat, Jun 9, 2012 : 1:18 a.m.
If they are going to ban this, why don't they ban cigarettes? They are more dangerous.
Some Guy in 734
Mon, Jun 11, 2012 : 7:40 p.m.
Have you ever seen a pack of the stuff? Something tells me that K2 and their countless counterfeiters can't afford the caliber of lobbyists that, say, an Altria Group can.
AnnArBo
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 8:38 p.m.
Oh the hypocrisy of our society: "Physical side effects from synthetic marijuana use include loss of control, seizures, hallucinations, vomiting and elevated heart rate and blood pressure." sounds like a lot of kids I see coming out of some frat parties who drink too much.
Jake
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 7:58 p.m.
Now if they would just issue the same kind of formal notices for beer wine and all booze, and don't forget smokes. they are a proven heath risk too. Then the world would be a better place!
swcornell
Sun, Jun 10, 2012 : 12:58 p.m.
Yes, we all know how well Prohibition works!
ffej440
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 7:49 p.m.
I did not know synthetic cathinones are bath salts. Cathinones come from the Khat plant which is legal in some countries and very popular in the mideast. I knew a Khat smoker from Syria and he said it was alot like smoking pot.
Marcus Adams
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 7:32 p.m.
America's a nation of addicts. Whether you drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes, one drug is just as good or bad as another, but somehow REAL weed is evil. Just ask your doctor if K2 is right for you. The last thing we need is more government regulation stifling job creators. Oh the hypocrisy of our drug policy.
Dennis
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 8:25 p.m.
It's funny you mention asking your doctor. I asked my physician once if marijuana was harmful. After a series of questions about my use and what not, his response was "I don't recommend it but other than the fact you are smoking, I would not say it is harmful"
M
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 7:29 p.m.
Good. Now we're banning things without any oversight from the citizens who elected these clowns, and we're making threats that include "But we won't tell them about this, word-of-mouth is good enough". Next election, just check every box that isn't the incumbent. It'll get real bad soon otherwise.
Bruce P.
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 7:22 p.m.
Seems kinda silly here in Michigan. Its okay to smoke weed and we need to legalize drugs,but not k2. This is just gonna drive it underground.
Jake C
Sat, Jun 9, 2012 : 2:40 a.m.
"This is just gonna drive it underground." The difference being that you can pretty easily grow some marijuana in your back yard or basement. K2 is a mixture of synthetic chemicals.
KINGofSKA
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 8:28 p.m.
Marijuana is A LOT different than K2.
Dennis
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 8:21 p.m.
I know it's hard to believe due to years of misinformation provided by the war on drugs but weed and K2 have nothing in common. The market for K2 is mostly people who want to get high without having to meet/know/consort with a drug dealer. The market exists because it is in stores and readily available. That being said, I agree that this law is stupid. There will be another product in stores within 6mo that is the same or worse than K2 and it will take another 2 years after that for law enforcement to realize what it is. What they should do is legalize marijuana. You could literally smoke a pound of marijuana and the worst thing that will happen to you is eating a lot and taking a long nap.
djm12652
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 8:02 p.m.
I'm from the 60's and I've yet to see any pothead get violent from weed....
clownfish
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 7:17 p.m.
Stores should ask for religious exemptions.