Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/231222
Sarasota News Leader December 20, 2013 TACKLING THE VARIETIES During her presentation, Thomas provided the board images of designer drugs in convenience store display cases. They generally are in close proximity to candy, she added. "The seductive packaging, mislabeling and easy availability, coupled with the perception that they're considered a legal alternative to marijuana and controlled substances, lead to the perception that these substances are safe," Thomas said. Page 42 organizations that work with people often affected by drug abuse, she pointed out. One major concern in crafting an ordinance, Thomas noted, is the fact that research has shown that as soon as specific substances are outlawed, chemists change the makeup of the drugs to get around the regulations. Therefore, the Sarasota County team's approach in writing the proposed ordinance was to focus on pharmacology and paraphernalia. Law enforcement officers would be able to The packaging features "eye-popping col- use discretion in charging users with civil ors," and the drugs come in forms such as or misdemeanor criminal counts, Thomas "candy-coated tablets," she continued. The explained. substances are "designed for popping, drink- A business with repeated citations for selling ing, smoking, injecting, snorting, brewing and the drugs would have its certificate of occuchewing." pancy revoked, she said. Among their retail names are "Dreamcatcher," "Chill" and "Jack Rabbit," she pointed out. Her "favorite," Thomas said, is one called "Opie Ate It Natural Pills." Commissioner Robinson pointed out that because the Florida Legislature, by statute, can sit for only 60 days each year, it has been unable to pass laws capable of dealing with "It's obvious these designer drugs are made the multitude of factors related to creation specifically to be abused and, as such, are and use of designer drugs. marketed with that in mind," she added. After the commissioners unanimously agreed "They are not tested for safety," she stressed, to advertise the proposed ordinance, Vice so users have "no way of knowing exactly Chairman Charles Hines said, "It's sad that what they're putting in their bodies" or how these laws have to be passed," adding, "Smoke addictive the substances may be. shops are not the only businesses selling the substances" — as Thomas had pointed out. Thomas explained that members of the county team that crafted the proposed ordi- His message to members of the public, Hines nance reviewed similar laws in Pinellas, continued, is "If you see [such a drug] for sale Hillsborough, Broward, DeSoto and Pasco [in a convenience store], turn around and walk counties, as well as state statutes. The sum- out and encourage the community not to shop mary of the work was shared with and vetted there until it stops [selling the drug] … We can by representatives of multiple community also vote with our pocketbooks." %