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POLICE LOOK TO BAN SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA, BATH SALTS IN SOUTHINGTON

SOUTHINGTON -- Police have proposed adding synthetic marijuana to a list of products that can't be sold or possessed under local ordinance.

An updated list of "objectionable products" was presented to the Town Council Monday night by Town Attorney Mark Sciota, who focused on synthetic marijuana.  The product is often sold in convenience stores and gas stations.

The list is compiled and overseen by the police department, but the council receives reports when the new version is compiled.

"The biggest change you will see has popped up in the last year," Sciota said.  "( Synthetic marijuana ) is becoming a dangerous thing in Southington and throughout the state."

Police describe synthetic marijuana as "spice," which refers to "a collection of herbs or plant material which has been sprayed with synthetic cannabinoids, often referred to as synthetic cannabinoids, producing cannabis-like effect when smoked."

Sciota called synthetic marijuana "something we need to tackle immediately."

Another product added to the list is synthetic cathinones, referred to as "bath salts" by the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Police describe the stimulant as having "effects similar to those of cocaine, amphetamine or MDMA ( ecstasy )."

Town Councilor Chris Palmieri said he approved of the new list.  His worry was that new, dangerous products are always coming out of nowhere.

"I think it will be beneficial moving forward working with the police department," he said.

Sciota explained the list must still be passed by the Board of Police Commissioners before it becomes local ordinance.

If the list is passed by the police commission, the ordinance states that "the chief of police or his designee" will enforce items on the list.  Police are authorized to take any and all actions "reasonable and necessary to enforce this section, including, but not limited to, inspecting any vendors or sale premises to verify compliance," according to the ordinance.

According to section 1-11 of the town's Code of Ordinances, "the violation of such ordinance, rule or regulation shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $90."

Sciota said the list of objectionable items is "fluid," and police can take things on and off as necessary.

"It's brand new for us," Sciota said of regulating synthetic products.  "It's something that hopefully will disappear, but of course something new will always pop up."

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Draft of the objectionable items ordinance submitted by Southington Police Department:

No person, firm of corporation shall use, possess, offer for sale or sell products known as, but not limited to: silly string, smoke bag, instant smoke, stink bomb, cap bombs.

Nor any product that results in the following: disfiguring, littering, desecrating of public and private property, indiscriminate use causing alarm to residents, threat to domestic animals and wildlife ingesting plastic and foam, creation of unnecessary refuse or release of potentially environmentally harmful substance or substances into the atmosphere.

Further prohibited from possessing, offer to sale or sell:sythetitc cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones.