Pubdate: Mon, 07 Apr 2014
Source: Bristol Press (CT)
Copyright: 2014, The Bristol Press
Contact:  http://www.bristolpress.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/569
Author: Susan Corica, Staff Writer

POLICE CHIEF: BEWARE OF SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA

BRISTOL - Brightly colored packages with names like "Bizarro,"
"Platinum" and "Juicy Herbs Marshmallow Root" are filled with material
labeled incense, but police call it synthetic marijuana.

"Just looking at the package and names of these things, it almost
looks like candy," said Police Chief Thomas Grimaldi. "It says on it
'Not For Human Consumption.' For the marketers, and I use that word
loosely, that's their way around it."

Grimaldi gave a slide show presentation to the Board of Education
recently to alert local educators, parents and students that the
controlled substance is being marketed to children.

In late March, Bristol police arrested Sharjil Khan, 45, owner of
Discount Tobacco, 123 Farmington Ave., after an inspection of his
store turned up synthetic marijuana and untaxed cigarettes. Synthetic
marijuana, which is sold as incense, is often smoked to create a
euphoric effect, police said.

Khan was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession
of a controlled substance with intent to sell, and possession of a
controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school.

The investigation was a joint effort by the police narcotics division,
the state Department of Revenue Services, and the Statewide Narcotics
Task Force.

"It's not just a Bristol problem, it's a statewide problem, it's a
national problem," Grimaldi said. "But we are seeing it here in
Bristol and I don't want anybody to think it doesn't happen here."

The chief said he hopes to sit down with Superintendent of Schools
Ellen Solek and the principals in the near future to plan a training
program for teachers.

"Because, quite frankly, when you see things like this, you may not
think of drugs," he said. "I'll admit this is new to us as well. We're
not used to it, the teachers are not used to it. It certainly looks
innocuous but it is very detrimental to the kids' health."

"Our intention is also to have this same type of program for the
citizens of Bristol, maybe at the library, so we can make more people
aware of it," Grimaldi said. "The more information we get out there,
the better it is for everybody."

"When you say it's marketed to children, are you talking about
children as young as elementary school?" board member Karen Vibert
asked.

"We haven't had that type of intelligence," Grimaldi replied. "But
when you look at the packaging, it's marketed toward young children.
The intelligence we have is it's in the high school and middle school
grades. Can it be younger? I'm not naive enough to think that it can't
be."

Solek asked the chief who adults should call if they become aware of
students getting involved with synthetic marijuana.

Grimaldi said to call the police. "We're always here,
24/7."

"We have three school resource officers working within the school
system," he continued. "If one of the principals has a resource
officer available to them, they can go right through that officer."

"If the resource officer is not available at that moment, they can
call the station, and we'll send a patrol car to deal with it
appropriately," he added. "I want you to understand that it is a drug,
so it violates the school policy as well."
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