Tuesday, July 3, 2012
The police department announced Tuesday it is free of Spice, also known as K2, in light of a statewide ban on the synthetic drug.
In light of a statewide ban on K2, Chesterfield Township police announced Tuesday the community is free of the synthetic drug. "A number of random unannounced inspections, by both uniformed officers and plain-clothes detectives, indicates that our gas stations, party stores, and smoke shops are all in compliance with the new laws banning K2 and other synthetic drugs," police said in a prepared statement. Where many gas stations and stores in the township once sold Spice, there is now no trace of it, according to police. "In fact, while speaking with several of the local business owners, they appear relieved that they no longer have to make the decision 'sell…or don’t sell,'" Detective Sgt. Deron Myers said. Last month, the township took a …
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
The statewide ban on the synthetic drugs would go into effect on July 1.
Supporters of a statewide ban on K2 will see their mission accomplished today when Gov. Rick Snyder signs a package of bills banning the sale and use of the synthetic drugs in Michigan. Passed by the House and Senate last week, these bills take several actions against the sale and use of K2, or Spice, in Michigan. While one of the bills updates the list of chemicals used in the manufacture of these synthetic drugs and makes them illegal to possess and sell, another grants the state power to temporarily ban a substance if the director of the Michigan Department of Community Health considers it an imminent danger to public health. This allows health officials to react more quickly to the changing formulas of synthetic drugs. The substance …
Friday, June 8, 2012
Addiction team from the Brighton Center for Recovery Hospital answers viewers questions during live web chat. Check out the chat transcript.
It was a lively and infomative debate between viewers and a team of addiction specialists from the Brighton Center for Recovery Tuesday during the one-hour live web chat on about K2 on Patch.com. Dr. David Yanga, addictionoligist and family practitioner, along with John Furey, Brighton counseling supervisor and Scott Masi, Brighton addiction outreach specialist, were on hand from noon to 1 p.m. to field readers' questions. To read a transcript of the chat, click on the Cover It Live box. For more information, visit the Brighton Center for Recovery Hospital.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
With so much being said in the media about Spice, Patch takes a look at some cold hard facts about the synthetic drug. Also, listen to a young adult's first-hand account with the deadly substance.
It’s been cited as the cause of 18-year-old Bloomfield Township resident Oliver Smith’s death and is alleged to have influenced 19-year-old Farmington Hills resident Tucker Cipriano’s fatal attack on his family. It’s called Spice, or K2, but what exactly is this increasingly infamous substance? The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines “Spice,” as “a wide variety of herbal mixtures that produce experiences similar to marijuana (cannabis) and that are marketed as ‘safe,’ legal alternatives to that drug.” However, NIDA, law enforcement officials and doctors in the Metro Detroit area say the substance is anything but “safe.” Although Spice is commonly defined as “synthetic marijuana,” Dr. Sanford Vieder, director of Botsford Hospital's …
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
The national gas chain has asked local station owners to stop the sale of Spice and K2.
BP has become the latest company to ask its gas stations to stop selling Spice and K2—a synthetic drug that has generated much controversy throughout Michigan, and the country. In a letter sent Tuesday, Susan Hayden of BP asked local gas station owners to stop selling Spice and other products that are usually labeled as incense to "mask their intended purpose." "Beginning immediately, all BP-branded sites are prohibited from displaying, using, storing, offering or selling illegal drugs, OR synthetic drugs produced to mimic illegal drugs, (including, but not limited to cannabinoids), or items that are intended or designed for use in ingesting, inhaling or otherwise consuming an illegal drug," Hayden wrote in the letter. "Prohibited items …
The township board discussed the synthetic drug Monday night during a regularly scheduled meeting.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
The county committee is the latest in a string of government officials to take a stand against Spice, a designer drug that's been sold throughout the state.
The Macomb County Board of Commissioners’ Justice and Public Safety Committee passed resolutions Tuesday against K2, also known as Spice. The resolutions—in support of a state Senate bill banning the designer drug and encouraging residents to oppose K2—will go before the full board Thursday night in Mount Clemens for approval, according to the county. “These substances have shown to be a hazard to public health and safety, and it is clear that they need to be regulated in our community and beyond,” Commissioner Phil DiMaria, who chairs the Justice and Public Safety Committee, said in a prepared statement. Macomb County officials signed a public health order Monday that prohibits businesses from selling K2. The county also launched a public…
Monday, June 4, 2012
Businesses in violation of the order could face misdemeanor charge punishable by up to six months in jail or a maximum $200 fine.
Macomb County officials signed an order Monday prohibiting businesses from selling K2 while also launching a public program to curb the synthetic drug's distribution. "This is a serious problem. It's not going to go away and it's time to take action," said Macomb County Health and Community Services Director Steve Gold before signing the order with county Executive Mark Hackel. Spice must immediately be removed from shelves Under the order, businesses that sell K2, also known as Spice, or any other synthetic drug could face a misdemeanor charge punishable by up to six months in jail or a $200 fine. "Our middle schoolers and our high schoolers are getting their hands on this synthetic marijuana," Sheriff Tony Wickersham said. "Macomb …
With the legal sales of K2, also known as Spice, in gas stations and stores throughout the Michigan, local law enforcement are waiting for legislation to crack down on the synthetic marijuana.
A girl, appearing to be in her late teens, walks into a New Baltimore gas station recently, asks for her favorite brand of "incense" prominently displayed on the counter and hands over cash in a matter of seconds. It's a scene that's taking place across metro Detroit and, many say, it's more sinister than it seems. That's because the so-called potpourri or incense, available in different scents like vanilla or apple and can retail around $7, is actually Spice or K2, also referred to a synthetic form of marijuana. In light of criticism across the state about the potentially deadly drug, Macomb County is scheduled to take a stand against K2 Monday. County Executive Mark Hackel, along with Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham, Macomb …
A chemical dependency expert weighs in about Spice problems across metro Detroit, including New Baltimore and Chesterfield.
New Baltimore-Chesterfield Patch asks Krystal Armstrong, program manager for the chemical dependency unit at Harbor Oaks Hospital in New Baltimore about K2, also known as Spice. What affect, if any, has K2 had on patients at Harbor Oaks? The patients that we have admitted with K2 abuse or dependency usually have symptoms of psychosis. This is why it is imperative for the patient to inform Harbor Oaks if they have used this drug so that we can treat the patient appropriately with either psychotherapy or psychopharmacology. How many patients would you say have been treated for Spice addictions and how has that increased/decreased over the past few years? It has definitely increased on both our substance abuse unit as well as our child …
Lilly
8:20 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Amen more ›