Kandiyohi County ————————— Drug Free Communities Coalition

 

Synthetic cannabis is a herbal and chemical product which mimics the effects of cannabis. It is best known by the brand names K2[1] and Spice[2]. When synthetic cannabis products first went on sale it was thought that they achieved an effect through a mixture of legal herbs. Laboratory analysis in 2008 showed this was not the case and that they in fact contained synthetic cannabinoids which act on the body in a similar way to cannabinoids naturally found in cannabis, such as THC. Synthetic cannabinoids, including cannabicyclohexanol, JWH-018, JWH-073, and HU-210, are used in an attempt to avoid the laws which make cannabis illegal, making synthetic cannabis a designer drug. It has been sold under various brand names, online, in head shops and at some gas stations. It is marketed as an incense or “herbal smoking blend”, but the products are usually smoked by users[citation needed]. Although synthetic cannabis does not produce positive results in drug tests for cannabis, it is possible to detect its metabolites in human urine. The synthetic cannabinoids contained in synthetic cannabis products have been made illegal in many European countries, but remain legal under federal law in the USA and Canada. Several US states have made it illegal under state law.Some forms of synthetic cannabis (HU-210) are currently scheduled in the USA under federal law while others are not (JWH-073).[54][55][56] The Drug Enforcement Agency considers it to be a “drug of concern”.[57] Several states have passed acts making it illegal under state law however, including Kansas in March 2010,[58] Georgia and Alabama in May 2010,[59][60] Tennessee and Missouri in July 2010,[61][62] Louisiana in August 2010, and Mississippi in September 2010. An emergency order was passed in Arkansas in July 2010, banning the sale of synthetic cannabis.[63] According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, several other states are also considering legislation, including Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Indiana, and Ohio.[62] Illinois passed a law on July 27, 2010 banning all synthetic cannabinoids that goes into effect January 1, 2011.[64]

Following cases in Okinawa and Japan involving the use of synthetic cannabis by Navy Army and Marine personnel resulted in the official banning of it,[65] a punitive general order issued on January 4, 2010 by the Commander Marine Corps Forces, Pacific prohibits the actual or attempted possession, use, sale, distribution or manufacture of synthetic cannabis as well as any derivative, analogue or variant of it.[66] On June 8, 2010, the U.S. Air Force issued a memorandum that banned the possession and use of Spice, or any other mood altering substance, among its service members.[67]

 Wikipedia.org

New Ordinance Holds Parents Responsible for Hosting Underage Drinking

KSAXTV.COM  September 21, 2010

NEW LONDON, Minn. – A new city ordinance has people in New London will hold parents responsible for underage drinking at their home, even if they’re away.

“Basically it’s holding that person accountable for being the host of the party where illegal activity is going on. So other than just people maybe getting underage consumptions, the person that hosts that party also then criminally liable for allowing others to be underage drinking at their place,” Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Deputy Dave Holmquist said.

“(If) The adults leave home, without taking precautions against minor children getting into alcohol, they could be found guilty of a violation of the ordinance,” New London Mayor Bill Gossman said. 

The ordinance passed after a unanimous city council vote Wednesday, after members heard from its supporters.

“A dozen people showed up at the meeting where we voted on it,” Gossman said. ”That gave me a reason to help pass it. And I think the reason it passed was because of the community participation.”

The ordinance was adopted from a similar ordinance for Kandiyohi County that applies outside of cities’ limits. It was proposed by the county’s Drug Free Communities Coaliton. But not everyone in the community supports it.

“If you go to the liquor store, purchasing the alcohol, and handing it over to the kids, then you are responsible for them,” Vickie Ellingson, who lives in New London and has a 17-year-old daughter said. ”But if you have alcohol in your home and minors are drinking it, when you’re not in their presence, it shouldn’t be at your fault.”

“It’s just part of life that there will always be teenagers that want to drink, and if they find a way to do it, they will,” Gossman said. ”It’s not going to stop something like that, but it does send a message to the community, and the area that the city feels it is an issue and that’s why this ordinance was passed.”

The ordinance will go into effect in October.

Written for the web by Joe Nelson.    jonelson@ksax.com