Synthetic Marijuana Remains an Issue for Authorities

EAST TEXAS � East Texas municipalities are making plans to battle synthetic marijuana locally after state lawmakers failed to pass a bill that would ban all forms of the drug. Officials say the lack of support from Austin is making it difficult for local law enforcement and drug abuse programs to make a dent in what they�re calling an epidemic. “We�ve seen a lot of kids getting messed up on this stuff,� said Gilmer Police Chief James Grunden. (pictured)

He said a statewide ban would be most effective because it would make the law consistent throughout the state. But Grunden added that city officials would have to take matters into their own hands, as many East Texas towns did before the Legislature in 2011 finally outlawed the drug sold as incense or potpourri under the names K2, Spice, Fire & Ice and Genie. Longview, Gladewater, White Oak, Daingerfield, Tyler, Marshall, Grand Saline, Kilgore, Carthage and Pittsburg all passed city ordinances against the drug before the state took action. Despite the local laws and a statewide ban, manufacturers have simply repackaged the substances using different names and forms, making it difficult to stop. Longview Mayor Jay Dean said he intends to expand the city�s ban to include every form of synthetic marijuana. Although adjusting city ordinances to combat the problem is a step in the right direction, Grunden said, it�s not the most effective.