DATE: June 26, 2012
MEDIA CONTACT: Kimberly Maroe, Public Information Manager
Broward County Board of County Commissioners
PHONE: 954-357-8053
EMAIL: kmaroe@broward.org
Broward County Commissioners have taken the first step to ban the sale or display for sale of bath salts and synthetic cannabinoid herbal incense that mimic illegal drugs.
Today, commissioners directed the County Attorney to draft an ordinance that bans such products.
The products that are labeled “not for human consumption” are sold at local commercial businesses. Synthetic ingredients in these products are designed as alternatives to illegal controlled substances.
“We're talking about products that carry names such as ‘Innocence’ and are sold at convenience stores and gas stations, et cetera,” said Commissioner Sue Gunzburger, who first requested the draft ordinance, which is also co-sponsored by Vice Mayor Kristin Jacobs and Commissioner Chip LaMarca.
Miami investigators are looking into the possibility that the consumption of bath salts led to the highly publicized incident involving Rudy Eugene, who was engaged in a cannibalistic attack on a homeless man when he was shot and killed by police.
“I want to make sure that in addition to bath salts, synthetic marijuana products that are sold as herbal incense are also prohibited,” said Vice Mayor Jacobs.
Chemical compounds in some of these products are easily changed, allowing for new substances to be continuously created circumventing federal and state laws that prohibit drug use.
A draft ordinance will come back for Commission review in the fall.
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