SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA CAUSE FOR GROWING CONCERN IN NEW BEDFORD

NEW BEDFORD - A synthetic marijuana that is legally sold as an herbal
incense at convenience stores is drawing fire from health
professionals and public officials concerned that more teens are
becoming violently ill after smoking the substances.

The various mixtures of herbs, plants and chemical compounds -
popularly known as K2, K4, or K9 and sold in foil packets or vials -
are about to be banned for one year while federal regulators
determine whether the products should be classified as controlled substances.

While that temporary ban will not take effect until Christmas, Ward 4
City Councilor Bruce Duarte has proposed an ordinance that would
outright prohibit K2 and similar products in New Bedford.

"I want to send a message out because there are people not aware of
this. This stuff is no good," said Duarte, who presented a motion at
Thursday night's City Council meeting calling on state and federal
lawmakers to pass legislation banning the compounds.

He also proposed the city establish regulations that would ban the
sale or possession of such substances in New Bedford. His proposal
passed unanimously and now the city's Committee on Ordinances will
consider establishing such a ban.

"It's upsetting that this council has to come up with a ban,"
Councilor Steven Martins said. "These substances should have never
made the shelves to begin with."

Duarte also suggested the City Council write to the city's Statehouse
and Capitol Hill delegations and surrounding towns' boards of
selectmen encouraging them to also ban sales of K2, which contains
synthetic cannabinoids, chemicals that imitate the effects of
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana.

"This stuff is as real as it gets and it needs to be banned," said
Duarte at the meeting, holding up a small vial of K4 he had purchased
at a local shop.