Attorney General Issues Emergency Order Making Additional “Spice” Chemicals Illegal
Attorney General Issues Emergency Order Making Additional “Spice” Chemicals Illegal
On December 11, 2012, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi issued an emergency order deeming more chemicals to be a significant threat to health and public safety within the State of Florida, regarding “Spice”. By delegation of authority granted under Chapter 893.035(7)(a), Florida Statute, Attorney General Bondi placed these chemicals as emergency Schedule I drugs in which the purchase, possession, sale, and/or distribution can result in a felony arrest. Synthetic drugs can be comprised of different unregulated chemical substances and are being sold under a variety of names or brands. Both the law enforcement community and medical professionals indicate that these substances are becoming increasingly popular due to the perception that they pose a seemingly safer alternative to illegal methods of getting “high” and can easily be obtained.
Sheriff Hall will continue to direct the Narcotics Division to aggressively go after any person or establishment that continues to possess or sell “Spice” or “Bath Salts”. According to Sheriff Hall, “We will continue to arrest those responsible for this type of activity. As with all illegal narcotics, they have no place in this county. We will continue to do our very best in shutting down any establishment that disregards the laws that are in place to keep our community safe and drug free.” The Sheriff’s Office will be handing out letters to local establishments that continue to sell “Spice” informing them of the added illegal components. Anyone found to be selling products containing these components will be arrested and prosecuted. Sheriff Hall also states that undercover purchases will continue to take place, and will continue until the activity stops.
Retailers and those in possession of psychoactive synthetic substances who require assistance in their lawful disposal are asked to contact their local law enforcement agencies. Failure to comply with this emergency order can result in a felony arrest as punishable under 775.082, F.S.S.
