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SALT LAKE CITY -- State lawmakers took the first step Tuesday toward prohibiting an herb that rapidly became a new drug of choice of among the younger crowd.
The House Health and Human Services Committee gave a favorable recommendation to a bill that would make Spice a controlled substance. H.B. 23, sponsored by Rep. Gage Froerer, R-Huntsville, now goes to the House floor for consideration.
Spice, also known as K2, is currently sold at smoke shops and convenience stores as potpourri, incense or a legal smoking material. It becomes like marijuana when sprayed with chemicals known as synthetic cannabinoids. Though labeled "not for human consumption," it is being increasingly smoked by people -- especially young people -- looking to get a marijuana-like high.
"We ban marijuana, why not ban the fake stuff, too?" said Ogden resident Dan Deuel. "Synthetic marijuana is even worse than the real thing."
Deuel brought Spice to the attention of Ogden officials last year when he observed a convenience store selling it near Horace Mann Elementary School. He organized a community meeting attended by more than 200 people, including the mayor and city leaders.
Ogden was the first city to outlaw Spice and several other Utah cities and counties followed suit, prompting Froerer to step in with legislation making it illegal statewide. Law enforcement officials said last year that a statewide ban would be more effective than a patchwork of local ordinances.
Paul Boyden, executive director of the Statewide Association of Prosecutors, said the law would take effect immediately upon being signed by the governor. There's no need for cities to approve ordinances banning Spice while waiting for the state to act, he said.
Health officials say the so-called synthetic marijuana can cause intoxication, inebriation, stupefaction and central nervous system impairment. Late last year, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration banned several chemical compounds used in Spice.
Unified Police Sgt. Scott Van Wagoner said police began seeing Spice use early last year. In addition to the high, he said it causes high blood pressure and rapid heart rate.
"The people who are ingesting this are idiots," he said. "It is endangering their health."
A second bill considered Tuesday, H.B. 200, that would ban the sale of synthetic cannibinoids to people under age 19 passed the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee. That bill would be withdrawn should lawmakers approve an outright ban on spice, said the sponsor, Rep. Johnny Anderson, R-Taylorsville.
E-mail: romboy@desnews.com
