Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/231222
Sarasota News Leader December 20, 2013 Page 39 abuse of synthetic drugs — referred to as "designer drugs" — as "a pressing community issue," according to a staff memo prepared for the commission on Dec. 11. and Human Services Department, explained in a presentation during the commission meeting. Along with synthetic cannabinoids, the other two primary "families" are synthetic or substitute Cathinones — commonly known Chairwoman Carolyn Mason seconded the as bath salts — and Kratom. motion Robinson made to approve advertisement of the hearing, adding that a couple of Of the latter, Thomas pointed out that the months earlier, a homeless man walked up team working on the proposed ordinance — including representatives of the Sarasota to her in church and said, "You've got to do County Sheriff's and State Attorney's offices something about this synthetic marijuana — recently received some pushback from stuff that's going on in the community." community residents opposed to Kratom's Mason told her colleagues and staff, "That inclusion in the new law. Thomas explained says something loud and clear, to me, and I'm that Kratom is on the watch list of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and happy to see this ordinance [proposed]." research the county team undertook found Synthetic marijuana is not the only designer the synthetic drug frequently mentioned as drug that would be targeted by the new law, the perceived successor to the synthetic canMel Thomas, a planner in the county's Health nabinoids (marijuana) and Cathinones. A sample of packaging reflects the marketing approach used with synthetic drugs. Image courtesy Sarasota County