WE NEED FACTS IN DEBATE ON SYNTHETIC POT

Wausau's Public Health and Safety Committee on Monday voted to ban the
sale of a substance meant t o synthetically mimic the effects of marijuana.

While we understand the committee's reasons for doing so, we are not
convinced that this is a necessary step, or that synthetic marijuana,
sometimes known as K2, ought to be a priority in the first place. It's
not clear to us that K2 ought to be considered in the same way as the
other public health concerns that we know are very serious -- things
like obesity rates, smoking, binge drinking and so on.

It's necessary to discuss this situation carefully. We don't advocate
the use of this substance for anyone, and certainly not for youths.
It's not the case that we believe there is no harm in K2, nor that
there's never any possible government role in regulating or banning
it. There may be, and we'd be open to that argument.

But we'd argue that the burden of proof in such a case needs to be on
those who would favor a ban. We just haven't seen the evidence that
this is a policy change we need in Wausau.

Locally, the health department doesn't know how widespread is the use
of K2. There are no known local cases of hospitalizations following
use of K2. Nationally, the data aren't much more clear. The Drug
Enforcement Administration calls it a "drug of concern" -- but unlike
in cases of drugs known to be dangerous such as crystal meth or
heroin, it offers little in the way of hard data about its actual effects.

Advocates of banning the substance say that uncertainty is part of the
problem -- because the substance is new, there aren't long-term data
on its effects. That's a reasonable argument, and it's not our
intention to dismiss any possible risks from the substance.

But there's a risk, too, in creating a panic among parents when it
might not be warranted. Among other unintended effects, a ban could
end up raising the profile of the substance and making it more
attractive to young people, not less. Similarly,

if it's forbidden in some places but legal in others, it's hard to see
how it can effectively be stopped from circulating.

The Wausau City Council will likely vote on the Public Health and
Safety Committee's recommendation in November. Council members should
vote their consciences, of course. But we'd suggest that perhaps there
should be at least some skeptical discussion about whether this ban is
really warranted.

Outdoor Music Lives

Also on Monday, Wausau's Public Health and Safety Committee approved a
license for outdoor music at the Hiawatha Restaurant and Lounge. There
were a set of conditions -- only one night per week during warm
months, and only acoustic music -- but overall it appears that the
committee found a good balance between protecting the rights of
neighbors in the area and allowing a popular Wausau bar and restaurant
to provide entertainment to its customers.

Noise is a real concern for neighbors of many area bars -- and people
do have a right to expect reasonable quiet in their own homes.

In this case, at least, the committee's decision here appears to be
one that all parties can live with -- outdoor music is allowed, but
not too loud, not too late and not every night. The license goes to
City Council next.