WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. (WJBK) -
It's cheap, easy to find and teens all over metro Detroit are using K2 to get high. Now, one local community is taking steps to outlaw it.
"It was actually your broadcast the other night that caught my attention and it was shocking," said West Bloomfield Clerk Cathy Shaughnessy.
After she watched a Shelby Township man's struggle with his addicted teen, who got his K2 fix from gas stations and smoke shops, and hearing how Shelby Township has come up with an ordinance to ban the sale or possession of K2, Spice and all other versions of the man made marijuana, she along with other township trustees came up with an ordinance of their own to outlaw the synthetic drugs.
"We really want to make it clear that we don't want to sell it in West Bloomfield. We know you can buy it in other places, but we have a responsibility here and we take it seriously, and so we're going to take a stand on this."
The packages of potpourri are labeled not for consumption, but kids are smoking it anyway. The man made marijuana was put in the spotlight after high profile murder cases. Police say Tucker Cipriano and his friend addicted to the stuff attacked his Farmington Hills family with a bat. In West Bloomfield, a 74-year-old grandmother allegedly shot and killed her grandson in fear. He reportedly had a history of abusing K2. Then there were kids who experimented and almost died from one try.
Although a bill is in the works, Michigan still hasn't outlawed it because manufacturers keep manipulating the substance. Detroit Mayor Dave Bing and Governor Rick Snyder are calling for immediate action.
"Is there a better way to do temporary measures to get those things off the streets and then do the follow up because, again, it's like an arms war in drug development," said Snyder.
"I would surly hope it would be banned and we have to change some legislation, I'm sure, but that's very, very important. We need to do that because these young kids out there, they don't know what they're doing," Bing said.
Until the state gets involved, Shaughnessy says West Bloomfield had no choice but to propose this emergency ordinance that will cut off its local supply.
"We don't want to wait that long."
West Bloomfield Township wants to fast track this ordinance. The board plans to introduce it and adopt it at Monday's meeting and then put the law into effect by mid-week.
A package of K2 (Credit: WJBK | myFOXDetroit.com)
