Ypsilanti City Council asked to ban synthetic marijuana
Related story: Synthetic marijuana: Washtenaw County officials consider options as efforts accelerate to ban it in Michigan
After a recent uptick in nationwide crimes and incidents potentially linked to synthetic marijuana, the Ypsilanti City Council said it may consider an ordinance banning the sell of the drug within city limits.
Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com
Ypsilanti resident Leonardo Christian voiced his concerns about the substance during Tuesday's council meeting.
“I called Councilman (Ricky) efferson the other night abut how some of the gas stations here in Ypsilanti are selling this synthetic marijuana,” Christian said. “It’s not at your backyard yet, but it will be soon. It’s going to get worse, especially with school out and there aren’t any jobs for these young people."
Christian implored council to look into the possibility of banning the drug.
“Something needs to happen because it’s definitely around here in Ypsilanti,” Christian said. “Not next week, not yesterday but today.”
The drug is composed of non-marijuana plant material that is sprayed with chemicals that mimic THC, the active drug in marijuana.
Christian referenced the recent series of crimes around Metro Detroit where K2 usage was suspected, including the son accused of fatally beating his father to death with a baseball bat in West Bloomfield Township.
“It’s all over the place,” he said.
Mayor Pro-Tem Lois Richardson said she can envision it becoming a problem.
“ I think it is something we need to start looking at,” Richardson said. “I certainly agree that we need to do something. I’ve heard by way that there are some things going on in Ypsilanti with it and we need to get a handle on it.”
Jefferson said he believes in order for the substance to be banned, the Washtenaw County Health Department has to take the first step. County officials are meeting Wednesday to discuss that.
Council member Daniel Vogt also said he wants the city to look into the matter.
Not all of the council members were in favor of potentially banning the substance. Council member Pete Murdock said if the council is going to go after a drug, it can’t pick and choose which one.
“I don’t mean to be snarky about, this but we’re going after a legal substance, synthetic marijuana, and we’re also trying to make an illegal substance, marijuana, legal,” Murdock said. “Where are we going with this?”
“If you can come up with a Super Drunk Ordinance, you can come up with a ordinance to make it illegal for these gas stations to sell this crap,” Christian said to the council. “It’s your job. You owe it to the people."
Council member Brian Robb believed the city should have nothing to do with banning the substance after council member Michael Bodary suggested having City Attorney John Barr look into whether the council has any legal standing to ban the drug.
“I don’t want the city to look into this stuff,” Robb said. “It’s not up to us… I don’t want Ypsilanti to become a nanny state and do this. If council wants to ban this, what’s next? Glue? Please give me a list of all of the other things council will ban next.”
Mayor Paul Schreiber said the council will have to discuss whether or not they want to prepare a resolution before any further action can take place.
Comments
Modern_Atheist
Sun, Jun 10, 2012 : 9:03 p.m.
sickens me to see this crap is still being called "synthetic marijuana" it is not similar in the least bit. Legalize REAL marijuana and get rid of this crap...
lefty48197
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 3:07 a.m.
229 murders were comitted in Detroit last year by people who smoke tobacco. Where's the push to ban tobacco?
Joe_Citizen
Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 6:25 a.m.
HaHaHa, you think that's bad, just wait until "Bath Salts" hit hard, then you will lock your doors. Then a Pitt Bull will be praised. Unbelievable, whats going on here. New exotic Zombie Drugs, hitting the streets in a store near you. Then we can all live like the Adams Family, or zombies are us. It really amazes me how hard it is to get a dangerous substance out of the hands of our children. Saying it's synthetic pot is wrong to do. It could be synthetic anything, but it isn't, it's a PO-pary or something like that. Marinol is a synthetic cannabis, and was derived for dieing people. Note to author: this message is plain out wrong to use this title for your Headings.It tells kids that they will get the same kick from pot, and will want to go there too. Any advertisement Pro/Against, it is always pro. Calling it something like spiked/poisoned PO-pary, would be much better and give the people a real view of what they're up against and what to look for. "GEE, why does my 15 year old have PO-pary in there pockets, back packs, or purses. Gosh, smells like bubble gum, well, good thing, I thought it may be that synthetic pot they're talking about". There ya go, prime example.
Modern_Atheist
Sun, Jun 10, 2012 : 9:08 p.m.
I wouldn't blame the "bath salts" themselves, I believe most of the violence that happens because of these is more related to the paranoia that is induced after staying up for days at a time using these drugs. I've never seen someone use coke and eat someone's face but I have seen people act completely insane after missing a few nights of sleep. I certainly don't advocate the use of bath salts but to blame the drug entirely seems pretty irrational to me.
RJA
Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 2:51 a.m.
Just in the city limits??? Why not ban this awful stuff in the whole county? Perhaps we need more parents getting involved.
YpsiVeteran
Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 12:19 a.m.
I pointed out two typos in the 3rd paragraph in the article, and questioned the claim of the person in the article, Christian, that there are no jobs for young people getting out of school, and my comment was deleted. I have no idea why...and the typos are still there. What about that violates the conversation guidelines?
Robert Granville
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 6:58 p.m.
When it comes to drug crime stories, journalistic integrity goes out the window. I have yet to read a single story in which K2 use was related to violent crime by anything other than speculation. No toxicology reports, no drug tests... just outright guessing. The public eats it up like candy, nonetheless.
Joe
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 7:34 p.m.
Consider your lack of evidence eliminated. "He added Hoffman tested positive for the synthetic marijuana known as "spice," the day of the attack" http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/05/23/attorney-says-teen-killed-by-grandmother-was-out-of-control/
Joe
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 6:16 p.m.
The problem you people fail to understand is that this isn't comparable to alcohol or cigarettes. Those ARE regulated. You have to be 18 to buy cigarettes, and 21 to buy alcohol. Any 12 year old can walk into a party store or gas station and buy this crap. Stop with this nonsense about it not being dangerous. There's a reason why you have to be of age to buy cigarettes and alcohol.
maallen
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 1:25 p.m.
Joe, Please explain how the "synthetic weed" is being marketed as a drug. What specifically of the packaging and branding of this synthetic weed makes it marketed as a drug? Please do explain. According to you, it's ok for someone to buy something that causes more harm and does more damage to both users and non users because it's regulated. At age 20 I can't buy it because the government said so, but at age 21 I can! Just because a person turns 21 and is allowed to buy it doesn't mean the harm and damages go away. Again, the hypocrisy of government officials is laughable.
Joe
Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 7:25 p.m.
no maallen, the "synthetic weed" IS being marketed as a drug. It doesnt have to be explicitly labeled as a drug to be marketed as one. Marketing is packing, branding, etc. It's most certainly being marketed as a drug. secondly, it's not comparable to cigarettes, because CIGARETTES ARE REGULATED. This crap is not. any 12 year old can go into a Citgo or BP and buy this stuff. thats not comparable to cigarettes.
maallen
Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 1:31 p.m.
Joe, This "synthetic" stuff isn't being marketed as a drug either. How isn't it comparable to cigarettes? They both cause great harm and are dangerous. The only difference is the synthetic stuff causes immediate harm whereas cigarettes causes delayed harm (over time) and affects those around that person smoking. I find the hypocrisy of government officials funny.
Joe
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 10:51 p.m.
Whipped cream is not marketed as a drug. Sure it's impossible to keep every substance from minors, but it's not impossible to regulate things known to be used for drugs or other harm. You have to sign a form to buy decongestant cold medicine from CVS. You have to be 18 to buy spray paint. It's not hard to greatly reduce the abuse of this by kids.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 8:57 p.m.
Probably the same reason you have to be of age to buy whipped cream right? Any 12 year old can go into a store and buy a can of whipped cream. The Nitrous Oxide that makes the stuff come out was the drug of choice when I was in junior high. It is impossible to keep every substance away from minors.
Soft Paw
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 5:54 p.m.
The term synthetic marijuana is a misnomer, as the main high-producing ingredients of Spice, JWH-018 and others, are chemical compounds that activate the cannabinoid receptor system; But these chemicals were created for laboratory research and work in a much different way than natural marijuana. According to Jahan Marcu, one of a the few cannabinoid scientists in America based at Temple University in Philadelphia, "Humans should not be smoking K2. The main reason is the animal data that is coming back is not that promising. There are a lot of JWH compounds and JWH is unique; it's very potent at low doses. What is a little scary is that around 10 mg per kilogram in rats there was some decreased breathing. We're talking about 1 milligram per kilogram that was able to cause catalepsy in mice."
Woman in Ypsilanti
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 5:30 p.m.
Oh man. Doesn't the Ypsilanti city council have better things to do? This is a product marketed as incense, albeit in a wink wink nudge nudge kind of way. It is apparently clearly marked with the words "not for human consumption." If people want to use it anyways, so what? That is their choice. If they commit a crime while under the influence, charge them with the crime. Just like how it works with alcohol. I am not sure I buy this whole crime spree caused by K2 stuff anyways. It is entirely possible that the kind of person who is so desperate for a high that they can't even be bothered to buy *real* pot is also the kind of person likely to get violent or commit crimes. Taking the drug away doesn't necessarily result in lower crime. But if the city of Ypsilanti really wants to reduce the use of this stuff, the answer is to make the real stuff easier to get. I would like to see the city cease it's involvement with LAWNET and to forbid all police officers from arresting anyone who is over 18 on a marijuana charge.
greg, too
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 4:49 p.m.
The outrage at K2 is the same as it was for 4loko last year (which you can still by at most party stores). Next year it will be something else that will cause moral outrage for a couple weeks and then dissipate until the next scourge comes along.
Martin Church
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 4:49 p.m.
Ypsilanti has no moral standing to close the sale of legal substances when an illegal is promoted in our borders. This synthetic drug is not on the control substance list nor is it banned by federal law. and yet some want to ban the sale of this substance, while at the same time legalize the distribution and use of a federally controlled substance. Based upon what moral grounds. I personally would like to see both the synthetic and Natural drugs eliminated from the market. But at the same time we must be consistent in our laws.
Usmjp Politics
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 3:52 p.m.
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Madeleine Borthwick
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 2:19 p.m.
this is, as far as I am concerned, nothing but anti-pot rhetoric. while I agree that smoking pot and then driving under its influence is not a good idea(just like drinking), what a person does in their own home, on their own time, is no concern of mine. smoke it if you got it. FREE THE WEED!
u812
Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 12:30 a.m.
Great statement, used to be what this country was about.
maallen
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 1:34 p.m.
How come cigarettes have not been banned yet? It causes more harm, does more damage, and costs more money than this "synthetic" marijuana does.
u812
Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 12:28 a.m.
Capitalism is KING number one in this country, if some old Republican is getting richer it's all OK.
KMHall
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 3:22 p.m.
Amen, malleen. Perhaps those who profit from the sales of cigarettes should look deep into their souls and find a more ethical way to earn a living. There are ways we citizens can apply economic pressure such as not shopping there.
Madeleine Borthwick
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 2:16 p.m.
maallen, i couldn't agree with you more. i am tired of cigarettes having this veneer of respectability simply because they're legal. I lost one of the best friends I'll ever have because she was a 3-pack-a-day smoker!!! that was almost 7 years ago. I still mourn her loss. one of my adult daughters used to smoke cig's, and I am immeasurably proud of her for quitting this it's-ok-because-it's-legal crap!
xmo
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 1:24 p.m.
Does the Ypsi city council have more pressing problems?
Roger Dodger
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 1:20 p.m.
Brian Robb and Pete Murdock are representing views that are held by people in this city. Just because they differ from your views doesn't mean they aren't valid. I've smoked the stuff being talked about here. It's not worth banning. The horror stories you hear in the media are just that. Horror stories... with a tenuous link to this substance. What were the criminal backgrounds of the people these stories are about? What makes you so sure that this substance was the cause? How about all of the violence caused by ALCOHOL??? Maybe we should ban that in Ypsilanti too!
Mike
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 5:03 p.m.
Thanks for your professional opinion Roger, I feel better already
M
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 1:54 p.m.
This is the worst Moral Panic we've seen in a while. The way they make it sound, there's roving bands of crazed K2 addicts roaming the streets looking for people to murder. It's basically crummy weed that makes you feel a little edgy. It's not going to destroy society. Enough with the nanny state laws.
A2 is a Utopia
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 12:47 p.m.
Dear Brian Robb & Pete Murdock, You already run a City that has the perception of being a "Third WorId City" so why not add "Nanny State" to that perception. Just once I would like you two to take a stance on a topic that would be for the people you serve. You two are nothing but a joke, maybe a figure head, but I prefer joke.
Ron
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 12:38 p.m.
Pete Murdock and Brian Robb, Do you 2 gentlemen have any children? How would you feel if one of them went and bought some of this stuff and then died from it or committed a murder while high on it? The 2 of you were voted in to help protect and do what the people want in this city but yet all you seem to do is go against what you REALLY know is right. My guess is maybe the 2 of you own a party store or a gas station that sells this stuff and you don't want to take away a good source of income. Do the right thing and draw up the Resolution to ban this stuff before it gets out of hand in the city and gives the people something more to fear than what we have to worry about now.
Modern_Atheist
Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 2:38 a.m.
As much as you don't want to believe it you don't have total control of your kid's actions. If they choose to, they can get their hands on practically any substance, legal or not.
greg, too
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 4:47 p.m.
What if a kid got drunk on mom and dads booze and stole a car? What if they took little Bobby's adhd drugs? What if they huffed the paint in the garage? What if What if What if...and I have a son. A city ordinance is a waste of precious time when the city has far more pressing concerns on it's hands. And, if a kid wants it, why wouldn't they just go out of the city to get it? If we were in rural Alaska or Idaho, an area where the closest city is hundreds of miles away, then this makes sense. Here, its a waste of valuable council time as the closest city is across the street. This is a state ordinance issue, just like the sales of real pot or alcohol or tobacco (how is that stuff legal?).
A2 is a Utopia
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 12:29 p.m.
If Ypsi wants to take a real stand against K2 and Spice, why not just pass an ordinance banning the sell and POSSESSION of K2 or Spice . In my opinion this is a*s backwards, but then again, I guess this is par for the course for this great administration.
Mark Hergott
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 12:19 p.m.
I appreciate my ward three council members concerns, but this is an intoxicating substance that any person can acquire and any store can sell under current ordinance. While the city may not be the proper level of administration to actually institute a ban or regulation of this drug... at the very least a non binding resolution condemning the substance could be passed. I think cigarettes are bad. I say so. That doesn't make me a nanny-state kind of guy.
Modern_Atheist
Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 1:48 a.m.
Good job Robert, you've pointed out that Mark is a person and not an extraterrestrial. Anything else to say?
Robert Granville
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 6:54 p.m.
You are one person.
Mike
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 11:50 a.m.
Real marijuana = good; synthetic = bad. What message are we sending to our kids?
Modern_Atheist
Sun, Jun 10, 2012 : 9:11 p.m.
The only legal troubles i've ever had were because I got caught with some weed... sure put my life in a sad spot for a while, I was 15 and had to pay $3000 in probation/court costs. That shouldn't ever happen to anyone for smoking something so harmless.
Roger Dodger
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 1:17 p.m.
I don't think anybody SHOULD smoke pot. But they SHOULD NOT be arrested for it if they do.
pvitaly
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 12:16 p.m.
Mike, There is a difference between telling someone they "SHOULD" be smoking pot and they can if they want to... I doubt parents are sitting around and telling their kids that they "SHOULD" be smoking it.
Mike
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 12:14 p.m.
Really? I still find it hard to believe that even though there are adults out there who still smoke pot 30 years after leaving high school that they could say with good conscience that our kids should be smoking pot. You obviously have not been inside of a court room and seen the percentage of people with legal problems who smoke pot. I have sat in and watched proceedings on numerous occassions and the number who smoke pot is staggering . Coincidence I'm sure is what you might say, but then you smoke it so I'd have to wonder..............
Davidian
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 12:07 p.m.
The truth?