The Columbus City Council Tuesday likely will be asked to consider banning the sale, possession and use of synthetic marijuana.
About a dozen Mississippi cities and counties have taken steps to ban the sale of an herbal mixture product, which offers the same high as marijuana and is known by many names, including K2, Spice, Demon, Voodoo, Genie and Zohai.
“I have heard of it,” Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens said of the synthetic marijuana. “As a council, we really haven”t discussed it yet. Personally, I would be in favor of a ban.”
Columbus Police Chief Joseph St. John Friday said he planned to ask, during a Tuesday council meeting, for a ban on the drug.
“We haven”t had a big problem (with the drug), but why wait for it to be (a problem),” he said.
“I would be in favor of a ban,” Ward 3 Councilman Charlie Box said. “It”s a synthetic marijuana and it”s very dangerous. I”ve read a little bit about it and it”s actually more dangerous than marijuana. It”s a hallucinogenic and pretty curious things happen when kids start taking it, so, yes, I would be in favor of banning it.”
“I haven”t heard of (the drug),” Ward 4 Councilman Fred Stewart said. “And I couldn”t say about a ban, but if it”s going to hurt somebody, I”m not in favor of (the drug), I know.”
“I have heard of it,” said Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem. “No doubt, I would be in favor of a ban. With anything that impairs people”s mind, yeah, of course, I would be for a ban. Particularly with children, we have to be cognizant of it.”
“I would be in favor (of a ban); I certainly would,” Vice Mayor and Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin said. “I understand that”s a drug similar to marijuana and marijuana is illegal. With what I know right now on it, I would support a ban.”
The synthetic marijuana mimics the effects of the active ingredient in marijuana — Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), but it does not show up in drug tests as marijuana.
Louisiana, Alabama and Arkansas have state laws banning the drug; the issue has been addressed or is pending in dozens of other states, including Mississippi.
Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics Executive Director Marshall Fisher said the MBN, in January, will ask lawmakers to make the synthetic marijuana a Schedule One drug with penalties on par with those for the sale and possession of marijuana.
Marijuana falls under the list of Schedule One illegal drugs in state law, under which a first offender convicted of possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana could be sentenced to not more than three years of prison or fined not more than $3,000 or both.
Penalties for larger amounts of the drug run from 20 to 30 years in prison with fines ranging from $5,000 to $1 million.
Other local municipalities and counties also may consider a ban on synthetic marijuana.
“If the sheriff”s office or narcotics people came to us and asked us to (ban it), I would assume the board would follow their request,” said Lowndes County Board of Supervisors President and District 1 Supervisor Harry Sanders.
“It”s something we will be evaluating,” Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman said. “That”s all it is at this point in time.”
Mahyar Netadj, who works with the Oktibbeha County Sheriff”s Department”s drug unit, said he knows of places in Oktibbeha County where the herbal products are sold, but he couldn”t give exact locations.
OCSD Chief Deputy George Carrithers said law enforcement officials have discussed synthetic marijuana.
“It sounds like some pretty dangerous stuff,” he said.
But Oktibbeha County Administrator Don Posey said the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors has not discussed potential bans in the county.
Starkville Dispatch reporter Tim Pratt contributed to this story, which also contains reporting from Jack Elliott Jr. of The Associated Press.
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