MARTINSVILLE — The Morgan County Commissioners unanimously voted to impose penalties on any person or store caught selling “Spice,” an increasingly popular and legal synthetic marijuana. The ordinance also bans its use in public places.
Morgan County Prosecutor Steve Sonnega said he first heard about the drug, often called K2 or Spice, in January. The issue was brought forward in recent weeks after a group of Mooresville teenagers went on a burglary spree while under its influence.
Sonnega said at least four or five stores in Morgan County sell Spice, which is often marketed as incense and can be sold at the same price as marijuana. “One of the stores in Mooresville said they’re just making a killing on this,” he said.
Spice consists of a chemical form of synthetic marijuana, which is sprayed onto a form of organic material that can be smoked. Sonnega said Spice speeds up the heart rate as opposed to real marijuana, which acts as a depressant. It is part of a family of drugs called cannabinoids, whose active ingredient is THC, and its use has resulted in emergency room visits, suicides and deaths throughout the country, he said.
“It is stronger (than real marijuana),” he said. “Because it’s sprayed on, the quality of the chemical sprayed varies.”
Sonnega said he would encourage Indiana legislators to consider banning its use. “Until the state can take some action, if we could stop the sale of it, it could go a long way in preventing access,” he said.
The ordinance banning the sale of Spice was passed on first reading Monday, and commissioners elected to waive its second reading. Board attorney Pete Foley said the ordinance would be published in about a week, at which point it would take effect.
The ordinance imposes fines of up to $2,500 for a first-time offense and up to $7,500 for a second or subsequent offense. It also bans people from using the drug in a public place or any location owned by the county. The ordinance was modeled after a similar ordinance in Boone County.
“If we can prevent somebody in our county from overdosing or getting high or doing something stupid while they’re high, then I think we’ve done a good public service,” Sonnega said.