Macomb Board To Consider Synthetic Pot Ban
MOUNT CLEMENS (CBS Detroit) -- After the beating death of Farmington Hills father Bob Cipriano, allegedly at the hands of his son and a friend high on K-2, the Macomb County Board of Commissioners' Justice and Public Safety Committee will consider a ban on the sale of the so-called synthetic marijuana.
Emergency Order (pdf)
The committee will consider whether to support Michigan Senate Bill 1082 at its 9 a.m. June 5 meeting. Senate Bill 1082 bans the sale of "synthetic cannabinoids" and related substances, including K2, Spice, or synthetic marijuana.
The drugs, legally sold at party stores and gas stations, have been tied to several cases recently, including the high-profile Cipriano incident. Tucker Cipriano and Tucker Young are charged with first-degree murder for allegedly breaking into Tucker's family home and beating Bob Cipriano to death in a quest for drug money. Mother Rose Cipriano and son Salvatore were also critically injured in beatings.
Tucker Cipriano's attorney Mitch Ribitwer told Talk Radio 1270 host Charlie Langton his client was "hallucinating" on spice during the attack and didn't remember much of it.
"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," said Commissioner Phil DiMaria, who chairs the Justice and Public Safety Committee.
Macomb County officials this week will begin issuing K2 health violations to those selling the substance and is asking the public to report violators to local law enforcement agencies.
"I wholeheartedly support Senate Bill 1082. While currently legal and being marketed as seemingly harmless, substances such as K2/Spice are anything but safe, and should be treated as such," said Justice and Public Safety Committee Co-chair Joe Sabatini.
The Justice and Public Safety Committee will meet at 9 a.m., Tuesday, June 5 on the 9th floor of the Administration Building, 1 S. Main, Mount Clemens. The resolution will then be forwarded to the June 7 Full Board meeting held at 7 p.m. at the same location.
"It's sprayed with several types of psychotropic drugs … which can cause hallucination and delusions and things of that matter," said Darius Brantley, with the Detroit Recovery Project.
Brantley said K2 was originally marketed as a potpourri or intense. "Overseas, I believe it was in Europe, someone decided to mix this synthetic cannabinoid with the potpourri or the incense in order for it to be smoked," he said.
