Thursday, June 21, 2012
Monique Stanton President and CEO of CARE, a center for substance abuse treatment for Macomb County residents, thanks legislators for banning K2.
I commend the efforts of Macomb County officials, our state legislatures, and Governor Snyder for banning the sale of synthetic drugs, such as K2 or Spice. The community response to stop the use of these substances and keep our community safe has been outstanding. This ban sends a clear message to youth and young adults that these substances are dangerous and not safe for consumption. CARE of Southeastern Michigan is the access center for substance abuse treatment for Macomb County residents and a leader in providing substance abuse prevention education in the community. Over the last few months, we have seen an increase in calls from individuals seeking help related to the use of K2 or Spice. Parents have also been contacting the …
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 …
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Readers can log onto Patch at noon today to ask questions, and learn more about K2.
Friday, June 8, 2012
St. Clair Shores police did not find any stores in the city selling the synthetic drug known as K2 or Spice.
St. Clair Shores police conducted a sweep of businesses Wednesday throughout city to determine if any were in violation of the county-wide ban on K2 and Spice. The sweep of the party stores and gas stations was conducted at the request of Mayor Kip Walby. Following the operation, St. Clair Shores police reported that all businesses were compliant and not attempting to selling the substances prohibited by the new Health Department order. The issues concern city officials and residents, who addressed the issue during Monday's City Council meeting. In addition to the local efforts in St. Clair Shores and Macomb County to ban the synthetic drugs, the Michigan House of Representatives took action Thursday to have them removed statewide. A …
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 …
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
St. Clair Shores City Council heard from a parent Monday about her concerns about K2, and will investigate banning the synthetic drug.
A St. Clair Shores mother made a passionate plea to city council Monday to investigate banning the designer drugs known as K2 or Spice. Amelia Davis, who has three children 12, 14 and 15, addressed council about her concerns about the availability of the items in the city and how they are marketed and sold to children with "cute" and "fun" names in "brightly colored shiny packages." Davis described how the drug can provide a high. She also told of serious health side effects including hallucinations, vomiting and elevated blood pressure. "One hit can get you high, the next one can send you into a psychotic state," Davis said. She believes there are three reasons kids are using the drug: "I am hoping St. Clair Shores can join Shelby …
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 …
Thursday, May 31, 2012
A state representative is proposing that K2—a synthetic form of marijuana known as Spice—be banned in Michigan.
The sale of K2—a synthetic drug also known as Spice—has drawn much attention throughout the state of Michigan in recent weeks. Many parents have expressed concern about Spice in the wake of several incidents. Most notably, Tucker Cipriano, 19, of Farmington Hills is believed to have been high on synthetic marijuana in April when he was accused of attacking his family, killing his father and severely injuring his mother and brother. On Wednesday, Michigan state Rep. George Darany (D-Dearborn) introduced legislation aimed to combat the sale and use of synthetic marijuana in the state of Michigan. Darany’s proposal comes after many local communities have rallied to have Spice banned. Facebook groups have been formed in White Lake, protests …
Dave
11:42 am on Sunday, June 10, 2012
That's the message they've been giving our children for at least 4 years here in Mich. Stacey. It doesn't make any sense to me. This product has been making it's way around the world for the past 12 years at least. And in dozens of countrys they've been banning these drugs during this whole time. Even in the US there are 11 other states that have already banned it.. the Marines and Air Force have… more ›