Synthetic Weed Poses Problems

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By Kyle Midura

Story Published: May 10, 2010 at 2:34 PM MST

Story Updated: May 10, 2010 at 2:34 PM MST

BILLINGS - Medical marijuana will take center-stage at Monday night's Billings City Council meeting, but there's a new drug catching the eye of local law enforcement.

Probation and parole officers recently heard about synthetic marijuana at a conference in Kansas, the first state in the union to ban the new drug.

"The officer at the time didn't know anything about it," said Regional Director of Probation and Parole John Williams, "officers start talking, and one of our representatives at the family drug court, they have some similar instances."

"Even though this is a legal substance, it's like anything else, if you use it for the non-intended purpose it becomes a problem," said Billings Police Sgt. Kevin Iffland.

Synthetic marijuana, marketed as a meditation incense and produced mostly in China, drew national attention in the heartland. Use quickly spread to North Dakota and Wyoming.

Sgt. Iffland said a lack of quality control makes the drug potentially dangerous, "it's not made in a factory, you can have kids making it in a dorm room."

Staffers for Attorney General Steve Bullock said they're monitoring the situation, but have no plans to ban the substance at this time.

"Just like with anything, whether it be legal prescription drugs someone is taking, or regular marijuana, if it impairs their driving, and they're taking a drug, then yes, it becomes an issue for law enforcement," said Iffland.

Probation officers said it leaves them in a gray area. "You can't test for it," said Williams, "it's going to affect (parolee) supervision."

Positive drug tests for alcohol or marijuana can send parolees back to jail, but synthetic weed poses a new challenge. "If we were to determine that someone was using this substance, more than likely would it'd be a test case," said Williams, "I think we would pursue it because it's not in the best interest of the individual, it's not in the best interest of public safety." He said that's just a matter of when, not if.

Two months ago, KULR-8 could not locate a local business selling the meditation incense, calls this week confirmed at least three. Managers at those businesses declined to comment.

The drug is banned in most of Europe.

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LINDA said on Friday, May 14 at 6:59 AM

THIS IS NOT RIGHT!!WE fight and fight(have been w/program from day1) and to put this 'un tested,synthsizyed weed, on the street when it has taken us a long time just to have the real thing to live on!!!.

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