CITY COUNCIL FAILS TO BAN SALE OF 'SPICE'

While Tippecanoe County voted to ban the sale of K2, or spice, on
Tuesday, West Lafayette City Council failed to follow suit at its
Tuesday night meeting.

The ordinance on the agenda would have banned the possession and sale
of the drug K2 - also known as spice or synthetic marijuana - in West
Lafayette stores. It failed by one vote, made by Councilor Ann Hunt,
R-District 3, who said she voted against the ordinance because she
wanted a public hearing on the matter.

Spice is not being sold in West Lafayette stores at this time, per an
agreement made by the West Lafayette Police Department and store
owners. Despite this agreement, West Lafayette Police Chief Jason
Dombkowski was able to buy a packet of spice in Lafayette on Tuesday -
which he then gave Mayor John Dennis.

Hunt explained the necessity for more education on this subject, and
therefore voted for a public hearing. The council was educated on the
legal aspects of this issue, however, by Tippecanoe County Prosecutor
Patrick Harrington, who described the wide use of spice as an
"emergency."

"This is a serious, serious problem. It's hitting our local area very
hard," Harrington said.

Harrington then requested the council to keep legislation consistent
with jurisdiction, implying that they uphold the Tippecanoe County
approval of the ban made earlier Tuesday. Councilor John Hoggatt,
D-District 1, co-sponsored the ordinance and applied his extensive
scientific background to the debate. He recounted an experiment he
witnessed where spice was tested on lab rats. Without delving into too
much detail, he said its effects were bad. He explained that methanol
is one of the active ingredients in spice and that it is detrimental
for humans to inhale.

Dombkowski said that although West Lafayette stores have agreed to
stop selling spice until this legislation is finalized, some stores
with locations in Lafayette have just moved their product there. It
was at a Lafayette location that Dombkowski purchased the packet of
spice that was on display at the meeting.

State Senator Ron Alting, R-Lafayette, is drafting a bill for a
statewide ban to be introduced in the next legislative session in
January 2011. He said on Tuesday that he is working to pass the bill
quickly - it has been submitted to committee and will be heard in October.

"It's an epidemic," Alting said. "When I started drafting the bill six
months ago, nobody knew about it ... I can tell you that has changed."

Alting supports and encourages local bans on the substance and said he
would like to see all 92 Indiana counties spice-free.

"The sooner they get it off the shelves, the safer our citizens will
be," he said.

Hunt stressed that as a nurse, she shares the council's concern for
the negative health effects of this substance. Hunt referenced
Dombkowski's agreement with local stores to halt sales of spice as a
reason why the legislation can wait until October to be finalized.

"The police chief said that it isn't being sold, so let's have a
hearing," Hunt said. "There is no disadvantage, only more education."