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Palmdale to crack down on illegal spice, synthetic drug sales

by The AV Times Staff • June 3, 2014

PALMDALE – Beginning June 7, the City of Palmdale will begin enforcement of a new City ordinance and will severely crack down on the sale, distribution and possession of illegal synthetic drugs, city officials announced Tuesday.

“Our ordinance will deal with some of the shortfalls in state law and help law enforcement in their efforts to stop the marketing, sale and possession of these dangerous and potentially deadly drugs in our City,” said Assistant City Attorney Noel Doran.

Often marketed as potpourri, bath salts, window cleaner, plant food and other deceptive products, synthetic drugs have gained popularity among teenagers and young adults.  Synthetic drugs include synthetic cannabinoids, which are man-made chemicals that are applied onto plant material and designed to mimic Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive active ingredient in marijuana; and synthetic cathinones, which are man-made chemicals related to amphetamines.

“These drugs are being marketed to avoid detection,” Doran said. “We’ve seen items sold as potpourri without scent and ‘window cleaner’ that doesn’t clean windows. The product’s names and look often reference illicit drugs, and the prices of these products are often way out of line with similar products. This new ordinance will assist law enforcement if removing these dangerous drugs from stores in our City.”

The ordinance was unanimously approved by the Palmdale City Council on May 7.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the intervention we’re taking to prevent the tragedy that results from drug activity,” said Palmdale Mayor Pro Tem Tom Lackey.

“I have 37 years in the fire service and EMS and I’ve seen what this stuff does to kids,” said Councilmember Steve Hofbauer.

According to the 2012 Monitoring the Future survey of youth drug-use trends, one in nine 12th graders in America reported using synthetic cannabinoids in the past year and synthetic cannabinoids are the second most frequently used illegal drug among high school seniors (after marijuana).

Use of synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones has been shown to cause several serious side-effects such as hallucinations, agitation, psychosis, aggression, suicidal and homicidal ideations, and death.

(Information via press release from the city of Palmdale.)

 

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety, Palmdale

11 comments for "Palmdale to crack down on illegal spice, synthetic drug sales"

  1. Ian says

    August 11, 2014 at 11:04 pm

    Please make note to close down the smokes shops on j-20 an also on k an 20th. My friend had a seizure an still goes an buys it an instant on smoking it. I dont want to loose my friend thinking that he past away smoking chemicals. the smoke shops claim they do not have it but they pull it out from under the counter for people that ask for it. That has been since july 7th until now..

  2. z says

    June 4, 2014 at 3:24 pm

    I think we need them cracking down on all these tweekers and crack heads before this whole spice thing

  3. joe says

    June 4, 2014 at 11:56 am

    Maybe Deputy Jose Rigoberto Sanchez could be put in charge of enforcing this. It may have a lot of legal questions thrown at it. No better Deputy could be put in charge of anything in the Antelope Valley.

  4. Eric says

    June 3, 2014 at 10:38 am

    Is creating a black market really a solution? As it becomes harder and harder to acquire the product through regular means people will turn to the back avenues. Perhaps it was put best by Seth Rogen’s character in “Pineapple Express”, but all they are really doing is forcing law-abiding citizens to begin associating with criminals, all due to people being unaccepting of their choice. Dealers do not care what age your child is, or any of the other considerations that are generally given via law-abiding institutions that run the risk of repercussion.

    Palmdale and Lancaster could easily force illegal marijuana dealers out of business if they would simply allow the dispensaries inside city limits. How much money does Rosamond generate from Valley residents who have to commute out there in order to purchase marijuana? Its not just the dispensary, but the associated business’ one will visit in the proximity. No black markets; regulate properly.

    • Voice of Reason says

      June 5, 2014 at 8:41 pm

      I commend the good intentions of the Palmdale City Council, but their actions are clearly misguided. There act will increase crime, the exact opposite of their goal. But once they see the results, they will reconsider or not be reelected.

      • Voice of reason says

        June 5, 2014 at 8:52 pm

        One more thing, To keep these and all drugs out of the reach of children, we need to have them controlled and sold to adults in legal businesses, like smoke shops.

  5. Roger Smith says

    June 3, 2014 at 10:30 am

    Good for palmdale. Now we just need to ban alcoholic drinks.

    • Daniel says

      June 3, 2014 at 12:18 pm

      Good deal. Catch it while it is early in the game. Don’t let this stuff get out to the kids too easily. They’ll probably get it but, why make it easy. Some people actually think tetrahydrocannabinol can make them smarter. They are probably the same people that think they can driver better under the influence of alcohol. LOL.

    • niko says

      June 3, 2014 at 1:05 pm

      Really ok lets ban outside activities…everyone just stay home

    • Anonymous says

      June 3, 2014 at 1:25 pm

      Great idea man who remembers nothing about American history and the 18th/22nd amendment!

    • Voice of Reason says

      June 5, 2014 at 8:45 pm

      Why don’t we just let the City of Palmdale ban the right to bear arms? We should just become a police state. Give up all our rights and our freedoms. We should let the government take our land and enslave us. Why don’t we just put them in charge of our brains. People, use your brains and think about the consequences of government out of control.

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