Truesee's Daily Wonder

Truesee presents the weird, wild, wacky and world news of the day.

Monday, December 19, 2011

 

'This is what the kids are smoking'

December 17, 2011

‘This is what the kids are smoking’

 

Matthew Bieniek
Cumberland Times-News

— 

CUMBERLAND — They come in teabag-size packets and small vials about the size of a long thimble and have names like Legal Eagle Patriotic Potpourri and Rip its.  They contain a mixture of herbs and chemicals and are labeled “not for human consumption.” 
 
It’s fake pot and the stuff is dangerous, said Allegany County Sheriff Craig Robertson. 
 
To highlight the ease of availability of synthetic marijuana, Robertson last week, in full uniform, walked into a local shop and bought one packet and one small vial of the so-called potpourri using $21 of his own money.   The products are completely legal. 
 
“The law is unable to do anything,” he said.
 
Robertson told the story to Allegany County commissioners and members of the local legislative delegation Friday.   Robertson hopes to enlist their help in fighting the growing use of the potpourri as a drug.   The sheriff asked legislators to support any laws which would help control or ban the products.
 
“They sell it as potpourri, but this is what the kids are smoking,” Robertson said.   He passed the products around the table for legislators and commissioners to take a look at the packages.   It’s not the herbs, but the chemicals sprayed on them, that have the effect of getting the user high when the product is smoked, Robertson said.   They are smoked after being rolled up in rolling papers, like a marijuana joint, or smoked in a pipe.
 
“I’m totally against this being sold,” he said.   The products are similar to bath salts but have different chemicals and somewhat different effects, Robertson said.
 
Synthetic drugs are already on the legislature’s radar, and a briefing book prepared for the 2012 General Assembly session contains information on synthetic cannabinoids, which have been linked to hallucinations, seizures, heart problems and suicides.   More than 30 states have banned the substances.
Robertson also asked legislators for help on panhandling.
 
“Basically, we’ve noticed a sharp increase in ... the past seven months,” Robertson told legislators.
 
People in the county are becoming increasingly concerned by a growing number of panhandlers asking for money, especially in the LaVale area, Robertson has said. 
The main concentration of the panhandlers has been in the LaVale area between Country Club Mall and Braddock Square.   The panhandlers also seem to be active on nearby National Highway.   The sheriff and his deputies have heard concerns from a large number of citizens, he said.
 
“It’s a safety issue when it comes to the roadway,” the sheriff said. 
 
Motorists may look over at the panhandlers and their signs, causing traffic safety issues and occasionally, panhandlers may block the road. 
 
A state law that may help out is already on the books, but doesn’t apply to Allegany County, Robertson said.   That law bans solicitation in public roadways. 
Myers said Washington County has faced a similar problem in the past.
 
“At Christmas time at the Valley Mall, it was incredible,” Myers said of the number and aggressiveness of the panhandlers.
 
Essentially the existing law only needs to be made applicable to Allegany County, Robertson said.   The sheriff asked legislators to make sure an exemption for charitable organizations and volunteer fire companies was included.
 
“That should be simple enough,” said Kelly.
 

Comments:
This story is B.S. on top of B.S..
The complaints aren't from citizens. This his pet project and Robertson wants push it as far as it can go.
Sure there has been an increase in panhandling. Heck, look at all of the hard working Americans that's lost their jobs and are desperate or destitute.
You have kids smoking potpourri and snorting powderd candy.
Is it any wonder after viewing prime time? Is it any wonder when the solution to every ailment is a drug?

I agree Perdue, this is just silly. If people want to go smoking potpourri, let them. These legislators won't be happy until they get kids back to drinking alcohol, like back in the good old days before potpourri.
Post a Comment

<< Home

Archives

March 2024   February 2024   January 2024   December 2023   November 2023   October 2023   September 2023   August 2023   July 2023   June 2023   May 2023   April 2023   March 2023   February 2023   January 2023   December 2022   November 2022   October 2022   September 2022   August 2022   July 2022   June 2022   May 2022   April 2022   March 2022   February 2022   January 2022   December 2021   November 2021   October 2021   September 2021   August 2021   July 2021   June 2021   May 2021   April 2021   March 2021   February 2021   January 2021   December 2020   November 2020   October 2020   September 2020   August 2020   July 2020   June 2020   May 2020   April 2020   March 2020   February 2020   January 2020   December 2019   November 2019   October 2019   September 2019   August 2019   July 2019   June 2019   May 2019   April 2019   March 2019   February 2019   January 2019   December 2018   November 2018   October 2018   September 2018   August 2018   July 2018   June 2018   May 2018   April 2018   March 2018   February 2018   January 2018   December 2017   November 2017   October 2017   September 2017   August 2017   July 2017   June 2017   May 2017   April 2017   March 2017   February 2017   January 2017   December 2016   November 2016   October 2016   September 2016   August 2016   July 2016   June 2016   May 2016   April 2016   March 2016   February 2016   January 2016   December 2015   November 2015   October 2015   September 2015   August 2015   July 2015   June 2015   May 2015   April 2015   March 2015   February 2015   January 2015   December 2014   November 2014   October 2014   September 2014   August 2014   July 2014   June 2014   May 2014   April 2014   March 2014   February 2014   January 2014   December 2013   November 2013   October 2013   September 2013   August 2013   July 2013   June 2013   May 2013   April 2013   March 2013   February 2013   January 2013   December 2012   November 2012   October 2012   September 2012   August 2012   July 2012   June 2012   May 2012   April 2012   March 2012   February 2012   January 2012   December 2011   November 2011   October 2011   September 2011   August 2011   July 2011   June 2011   May 2011   April 2011   March 2011   February 2011   January 2011   December 2010   November 2010   October 2010   September 2010   August 2010   July 2010   June 2010   May 2010   April 2010   March 2010   February 2010   January 2010   December 2009   November 2009   October 2009   September 2009   August 2009   July 2009   June 2009   May 2009   April 2009   March 2009   February 2009   January 2009   December 2008  

Powered by Lottery PostSyndicated RSS FeedSubscribe