Legal Weed, Bath Salts, Zombies, Death and Suicide ~ a Growing Nationwide Epidemic

This is a broad swath of material all pertaining to these illicit drugs. Please take time to study the links, read the correspondence, and rech out to me if I can be of any assiatnce, as I healped spearhead the local effort in very early 2013 and late 2012 here when we outlawed these drugs in Cumberland, Maryland.

It took a lot of work, but writing effective letters to the proper politicians and law enforcement agencies is a great place to start as well as communicating with your local health professionals.

Demand immediate emergency legislative meetings and conquer this beast right away, as to wait longer is only certainly a dreath penalty to many un-assuming men and women, both the users themselevs and the victims of their out of control lives.

I hope you find this infomation useful, and I will further organize it to make it more presentable and a better resource base for knowledge, time permitting.

Scroll through and peruse the different material I have outlined below. This is more like a research papers list of resources then it is a document to present for formal reading. It is meant to illustrate what to do to take action, share news and updates, highlight scientific facts, and educate the masses on this difficult issue.

I apologize for its overall lack of flow, but again, it is a resource of useful information.

Please email me any additions you would like to see included as I have added to this and edited it for three years to keep it as current as possible within reason, not repeating material over and over.

I hope you may find this very useful.

Thanks,

Stephen Swygert 

Forward added on April 17, 2015   

RECENT NEWS MAGAZINE FINALLY 

CATCHING UP

October 2015

Thousands Hospitalized This Year Due to Fake Weed

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/thousands-hospitalized-this-year-due-to-fake-weed/

UPDATE !!! APRIL 17, 2015 

http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/28797578/15-suffer-overdose-symptoms-after-suspected-use-of-synthetic-drug-spice

Here is recent news right from Maryland, Washington County, more specifically Hagerstown !!!

Here is the article from Fox News:

 HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Synthetic marijuana on the streets in the Hagerstown area is making people sick.
The hospital has reported more than 15 overdoses since Saturday. Patients showed up at the emergency room of Meritus Medical Center complaining of trouble breathing, nausea, agitation and paranoia.  One patient overdosed twice.

“It's extremely dangerous. You don't know what chemicals you're putting into your body. You've got manufacturers that make different kinds,” said Deputy First Class Carly Hose, a spokesperson for the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

The synthetic drug is a mix of herbs laced with chemicals that mimic the effects of marijuana. It's often sold as potpourri under a variety of brands and is commonly known as “Spice.”

“You have no idea what type of chemicals they are, how much of the chemicals are in there, or how your body is going to react to it,” said DFC Hose.

No one has died, but two patients were temporarily placed on ventilators. The victims were all teenagers or young kids.  The oldest one was 19 years old and the youngest was only 11.

“I wouldn't want to try something that is fake and could kill me. I wouldn't want to do that anyways. It's just crazy,” said Hagerstown resident Faith Cooper.

The Washington County Narcotics Task Force has linked one particular brand called “Strawberry Xtreme Aroma Therapy” to several of the overdoses.

“With this particular brand, it's making people very sick and we want to get it pushed out there that this is not something they want to be messing with or that they want to ingest or smoke. It's causing people to be extremely ill,” said DFC Hose.

Synthetic pot is illegal in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia, but it's tough for law enforcement to keep it off the streets. Manufacturers, typically from China, change the chemical formula to stay one step ahead of the laws.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office has not made any arrests in connection to the overdoses. The synthetic drug can be ordered online, sold person-to-person or in gas stations or convenience stores with the disclaimer that it's not for human consumption.

RELATED: 5 things to know about synthetic drugs being sold to teens

ALL ABOVE FROM FROM THIS LINK:

http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/28797578/15-suffer-overdose-symptoms-after-suspected-use-of-synthetic-drug-spice 

Please watch this video !!!

https://www.facebook.com/myfoxdc/videos/10153366080237494/

LEGAL WEED, BATH SALTS, ZOMBIES, DEATH AND SUICIDE,  THE GROWING EPIDEMIC

PAST PETITION - INACTIVE - YOU MAY SKIP OVER THIS, BUT THE SITE IS STILL UP AND YOU MAY START YOUR OWN PETITION THER AS WELL TODAY !!!

Please sign this petition and re-post this and share it with your friends. (Currently Inactive but signed by local politicians, state politicians, and states attorneys office member)

This is a petition I have started as an activist in my local community that I hope you will each read and properly sign as well as urge this change to happen in an efficient manner before more lives are lost and destroyed. PLEASE RE-POST THIS, and if you would like to start on in your own state, contact me for details if I may be of any help.

Community Effort to Ban Sale of Bath Salts and Legal Weed for Cumberland, Maryland and other Maryland cities, Allegany County and other Maryland Counties, Maryland State

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/819/863/025/

Once you have signed the petiton please join the facebook group page as well...thanks for your support.

If you can re-post this and invite your friends too join as well, the quicker the knowledge spreads the more lives will be saved.

http://www.facebook.com/BanBathSaltsandLegalWeed

I will be happy to assist you for any other jurisdiction or state if you need help to start your own petition, simply email me your questions and contact information.

My personal email address is:

rokkinroll@yahoo.com

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CORRESPONDENCE ON THIS ISSUE FROM POLITICIANS

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ RECEIVED 09-24-201211:48 a.m. (2 hours ago) senator@mikulski.senate.gov

Dear Mr. Swygert:

 

    Thank you for your letter and the link you enclosed regarding your petition.  I appreciate hearing from you.

 

    I want you to know that your comments are extremely helpful to me.  I appreciate your taking the time to keep me informed.

 

    If I can be of assistance to you in the future, please feel free to contact me.

 

Sincerely,
Barbara A. Mikulski
United States Senator 

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What I posted to FaceBook after receiving the above letter: 

POSTED TO MY SITE, AND SENT TO MAYOR GRIM, BILL VALENTINE, PROSECUTOR MICHAEL TWIGG AND MIKE MCKAY:

Dear Readership:

Here is a nice letter from ...well you will see...it was in response to the bath salts situation as well as the legal weed. I also know for a fact the Puff n' Stuff is still selling "legal Weed" or Potpourri (Mr. Greene's Brand Potpourri (which of course they still know is being smoked!)in a 5 gram package for $ 30)... so perhaps you may pass that word along if need be to the pr

oper authorities.

Of course we know this man is resistant to the change as well as the law and ruled by greed..however, here is what I received in an email today...quite interesting...I also wrote the F.B.I., The D.E.A., and all local and state law enforcement too...thanks again...and what follows is what I just received today...just nice to get an answer from those a little further up the line! (originally I sent this to Bill Valentine) I will send a duplicate of this to Prosecutor Twigg, and Commissioner McKay, as well as a few others...keep leading the way to our brighter future...kudos to all for efficiency and making a stand!

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FROM:

senator@mikulski.senate.gov

Dear Mr. Swygert:

Thank you for your letter and the link you enclosed regarding your petition. I appreciate hearing from you.

I want you to know that your comments are extremely helpful to me. I appreciate your taking the time to keep me informed.

If I can be of assistance to you in the future, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,
Barbara A. Mikulski
United States Senator

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Mrs. Mikulski, I want to personally say I appreciate you took your time to write me personally, just as Allegany County Commissioner McKay did as well,with a fine Thank You. I appreciate fine people that care, communicate and do not isolate anyone wanting to offer help.

My original e-Mail sent:

I will add it once I locate it.


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My Letter to The President of The United States:

 http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4748273228122595245#editor/target=post;postID=4655121254021330787

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/819/863/025/

This is my link to a petition I have founded that has already had signatures from many politicians on a local and state level as well as a local prosecutor.

I was published at The United States Department of Energy (google: Swygert HRDC) in October of 2010, and I am looking forward to seeing your signature and support for this petition.

I have also started a facebook group:

http://www.facebook.com/BanBathSaltsandLegalWeed

,and I would like to see your support there as well.

I am an outspoken registered Republican, however I voted for you President Obama, because I understand that you see the ways in this country needs to change and evolve, as we have stagnated for far too long.

I am tired of watching my community crumble on the backs of businesses making money and promoting addiction through the immoral sales of these drugs, bath salts and legal weed.

My petition will further explain that stance.

I am for the legalization of natural marijuana, however I am totally against these drugs and the total unpredictability they have, the addiction they stir so quick, and the amount of damage we are just starting to recognize.

This issue reminds me of the crack epidemic in the 80's, and it's continuing problem upon society, as well as the crystal meth epidemic.

Law Enforcement has it's hands full and the jails and prisons are over capacity, and this is just one more problem that will blossom into further problems, crime, and ultimately death, and all for no earthly good.

I studied Police Science at Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale Campus, and studied a short time at G.M.U., however did not finish work on my B.S.

I attended your rally in Manassas, Virginia as well as your inauguration, and I was proud that you spoke at my community college recently.

I am for the most part self educated and come from a fine family with a Father and a brother who are West Pointers and a Mother who is an artist, and I, their son, a fine mix of each in this beautiful melting pot of a nation of so much culture which I wish to cherish and continue to protect.

I am a musician (MobiusTripz) as well as a self published poet and writer, and have more recently focused on these issues as I am working through the Social Security Disability process.

My spine is disintegrating.

What I do have left is a mind that is sharp and an intellect to share.

I only wish to make a lasting contribution.

Thanks, Mr. President

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Letter by myself, John Stephen Swygert published in The Cumberland Times News: 

Do you want them ‘lurking’ near our schools?

Posted: Wednesday, August 22, 2012 6:01 pm | Updated: 2:33 am, Thu Aug 7, 2014. 

On May 29, 2012 I published an article about bath salts and legal weed on my blog.

http://mountainmaryland.blogspot.com/2012/05/legal-weed-bath-salts-death-and-suicide.html


In October 2010 I had the honor of being published at The United States Department of Energy.

EDIT BELOW ADDED APRIL 17, 2015 - NOT IN NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

(LINK NO LONGER ACTIVE) (ARTICLE IN ITS ENTIRETY MAY BE READ HERE NOW)

http://mountainmaryland.blogspot.com/2010/10/letter-about-hrdc-submitted-to.html

(ORIGINAL INACTIVE LINK BELOW)

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/wip/news_detail.html?news_id=16404

As it is easy to track my readership statistics, the article about bath salts and legal weed has been read in three months at a ratio of 4:1 in total reads as compared to the article at The United States Department of Energy website, which has been published for nearly two entire years.
I have recently started a petition and a Facebook page to raise awareness and help outlaw these dangerous chemical compounds.
This has been signed by several local politicians, state politicians, prosecutors, and many citizens, thus far, in only a few short days.

 http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/819/863/025/

http://www.facebook.com/BanBathSaltsandLegalWeed?ref=hl

The major emphasis has been on bath salts, however please do not overlook “legal weed,” as it can and often does contain the exact same chemicals or other equally dangerous and unpredictable chemical compounds, in a multitude of brands and blends as well.
These chemicals are often in the cannabinoid family tree, the Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) family tree, and the amphetamine family tree.
Rumor has it that one shop is distributing, at least, legal weed, if not both legal weed and bath salts, was grossing $28,000 per month in sales. Again, that is a rumor, but I do not think that is too far fetched by any stretch of the imagination.

 

I despise what it is doing to the already delicate fabric of our community.

It disgusts me to see these packages littered about our city, our community, and our beautiful woodlands where I like to hike with my dog.

 Education in the community, starting with the family, and a properly coordinated effort for testing (when available) and treatment, and perhaps most especially and immediately, boycotting these local immoral businesses that are operating on the pretense of free enterprise is the onus upon us now. I would like to challenge the local citizens, the local newspaper, the local radio stations, and other media outlets as well as local businesses and even government to take out an advertisement, or publish a website, and list and expose all the businesses in and around town or anywhere in our vicinity, that are selling any of this garbage, so we may all be aware of who it is that is preying upon our community.

I urge any leadership as well as readership in any locations that reads this article to do the same, as being proactive, and thus preventing problems, is a much better solution then waiting for the problems already at hand to further proliferate.

Just go where this garbage is sold and see who “lurks” around these places, then ask yourself is that who you would like near our children’s bus stops or schools?

Speaking of schools, I know for a fact that a few places that sell this are in very close proximity to schools and I state that only because I find it as just another great concern.

If you have read this far, I appreciate your individual time and thought about this issue and I hope that you will join the rest of us and use your voice as we organize to outlaw this garbage and prevent what otherwise will happen if we choose to rest on our collective laurels.

 John Stephen Swygert

Cumberland

http://www.times-news.com/opinion/do-you-want-them-lurking-near-our-schools/article_146e84dc-4f55-51d1-8724-b44b95b2f068.html

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PUBLIC MEETING ON AUGUST 30, 2012 HELD BY THE ALLEGANY COUNTY (MARYLAND) COMMISSIONERS ABOUT BATH SLATS LEGAL WEED AND OTHER PERTINENT ISSUES:

Webcast Link:

If you are curious to see my personal address to those in attendance at the meeting, please see this video and go to time marker 28:55

The minutes of the entire meeting follow below.



Thanks, John "Stephen" Swygert


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 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7ygnyix6VfQ

 

August 30, 2012 August 30, 2012 The regular meeting of the County Commissioners of Allegany County was held in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, Room 100, 701 Kelly Road, Cumberland, at 5:00 p.m. on the above date. The following were present: President Michael W. McKay; Commissioner William R. Valentine; County Attorney William M. Rudd; and County Administrator David A. Eberly.  The following business was transacted:    The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Sheriff Craig Robertson. Commissioner McKay began the meeting with a prayer. MOTION #1 There were no additions or deletions to the agenda. MOTION #2 Upon motion by Commissioner Valentine, seconded by Commissioner McKay, and motion carried, the Commissioners approved the minutes of the August 23, 2012, public business meeting. ACTION AGENDA Item 1 – Road Opening Petition (John T. Allen and Carrie A. Allen) – Attorney Robert O. Kazary, as attorney for the Petitioners, presented a brief summary.  Upon motion of Commissioner Valentine and seconded by Commissioner McKay, the Commissioners unanimously approved the opening of a 40-foot paper street called Reed Road on Minor Subdivision Plat No. 1470, near Mr. and Mrs. Allen’s home in Frostburg, Allegany County, Maryland. Item 2 – Road Opening Petition (Toby A. Miller, James R. Miller and Charles E. Miller, Sr.) – Attorney Robert O. Kazary, as attorney for the Petitioners, presented a brief summary.  Upon motion of Commissioner Valentine and  seconded by Commissioner McKay, the Commissioners unanimously approved the opening of two unnamed 15-foot Alleys on Amended Plat No. 2 of the Cumberland Valley Addition to Cumberland in Bowman’s Addition, Allegany County, Maryland. Item 3 – Public Hearing – Code Home Rule Bill 6-12 “Synthetic Drugs” – County Attorney William M. Rudd had no additional comments, and Commissioner McKay opened the matter to public comment.  Mr. Charles Casey, 129 Polk Street, Cumberland, identified himself as the owner of Puff & Stuff in Cumberland and LaVale.  He began by thanking the Commissioners for the opportunity to speak.  He said that he has reviewed the proposed Bill 6-12 and said that “it is completely outdated.”  He discussed that the current Federal law contains 32 banned chemicals and that only 20 are listed in the County’s Bill as banned chemicals.  He feels that this could create a “bunch of legal loopholes.”  He said that the State of Maryland also bans 32 chemicals.  He stated that his company has been compliant with Federal and State laws from “day one” and has been selling a legal product in a legal manner.  He doesn’t see the need to rush (the Bill) as an emergency act, as “there is no great emergency.”  He said that “not a single arrest has been made involving a minor in possession of these products” and that “no one has been fatally harmed”, so “where is the emergency?”  He feels that the County should take time and bring the list of banned substances current with Federal law.  He said that he agrees with law enforcement that the illegal drugs are a problem and that he too does not want them sold in our community.  He remarked that it is difficult to separate the legal ones from the illegal ones.  He proposed that “since we really cannot control the product, we should control how they are being sold” and that only stores who are willing to “card” should be allowed to sell certain items; so, “if it is misused, it is only misused by adults.”  He referenced Wal-Mart’s policy of carding for the purchase of inhalable products, for the past few years, and marking certain products as “not for human consumption.”  He stressed his view that the law should be as clear as possible, as the situation is confusing.  He offered his time to the Board if needed and also warned of a potential “black market” for banned products, such as people going to Baltimore to purchase a product and then bringing it back into our County.  Mr. Casey told the Board that all shipments he brings into his business come with a data sheet, and if no banned substance appears on that data sheet, then he has “a legal right to sell” the product and that it is not his choice what is done with it.  He said that he is “sorry if you don’t like it, but that is the reality of it.”  He said that sales at his store have tripled since recent articles about certain products have appeared in the local paper, and that he believes that the press coverage is “forcing people to go try it, do it illegally, to misuse this product.”  He stressed again that the list in the Bill needs to be complete, or “people will beat the system.”  Dr. Sue Raver, of the Allegany County Health Department, spoke about the increase they have seen over the last several years in the use of synthetic drugs:  both what are called “bath salts” and synthetic marijuana’s.  She agreed that “the drug companies are getting ahead of us” in producing these substances; she said that these are not legitimate drug companies in most cases.  She stated that the Health Department does very much support the proposed legislation.  She said that the Health Department “goes on record as supporting the law as proposed.” Dennis Stewart, of Cumberland, stated that he worked as a counselor at the Massie Unit for four years, “years back.”  He said that he founded Narcotics Anonymous in Allegany County 28 years ago, and that he still keeps up on the drug situation in the community.  He said that he does agree that something needs to be done about the synthetic drugs:  synthetic “pot”, bath salts, etc.   However, he believes that past policies of keeping marijuana illegal “has helped perpetuate this problem with synthetic drugs.”  He said he feels that instead of being able to smoke marijuana, that’s “illegal but virtually harmless, people turn to these legal drugs because of legalities, even though these drugs are harmful.”  He made reference to “prohibition of alcohol and what it caused:  underworld trafficking, gang wars, murders in the streets, people going blind and crazy from drinking bootleg alcohol”, and likened that to the synthetic drugs situation.  He mentioned studies that apparently show that marijuana does not hurt a person’s lungs, memory or “anything”, and also stated that alcohol is the “number one killer of people out there, including every drug put together”.  He went on to detail statistics to document this.  He feels that alcohol, a legal substance, is a far worse problem than synthetic drugs. Michael Twigg, States Attorney, discussed the proposed Bill.  He agreed that Mr. Casey is correct in saying that it does not contain all of the drugs currently listed in Federal law or State law.  He went on to say, “however, that ignores a couple of things that this Bill does.”  He said he felt it is important to define the problem Allegany County has with synthetic drugs.  He mentioned that the number of cases law enforcement has seen with both children and adults being taken to the emergency room because of use of these drugs is increasing within our community.  He thinks this is due to a lack of public awareness, especially among young people, regarding the dangers associated with the drugs.  Mr. Twigg commented, “I firmly hold (responsible) the local retailers, such as Mr. Casey, who sell these products, knowing how they’re being used by those who purchase them.  Hiding behind a veil of ‘not for human consumption’ is not an acceptable, nor moral, defense.”  He said that this bill would support law enforcement because it will provide an additional tool to be used to combat the problem, and that it will also increase the public awareness and put vendors on notice that law enforcement is looking into this and, if these products are found, charges will be made accordingly.  He offered a “word of caution”:  that “this is an ever-changing problem, in that the Bill, as passed right now, will not mean that the streets of Cumberland or the streets of Allegany County will be free of this drug tomorrow.”  He said the drug manufacturers recognize that these drugs are a huge moneymaker for them, and that they continuously change the composition of the drugs to stay “one step ahead of the law.”  He mentioned that there are many challenges regarding this situation. He does feel that the Bill will help, along with continued Federal and State monitoring. He gave a “fair warning to the retailers:  there will be no free shot in this case.  There will be no warnings.  If we come and purchase them from your store, and they have items, or derivatives, of the items that are either banned federally right now, we will arrest and we will prosecute.”  Mr. Twigg touched on a few points of Mr. Casey’s testimony:  that he referred to the product as a “drug”, indicating that he knows he is selling a drug, and that he is continuing to do it;  that he offered to help the Commissioners to create the new law to help minimize the problem in the community, although if he really wanted to help the community, he would stop selling; and that he made a comparison of the product sold by his business to plumber’s glue sold by Wal-Mart, which is not marketed by Wal-Mart as anything other than plumber’s glue, and is not packaged enticingly.  Mr. Twigg asserted his support of the Bill, as well as any effort by Federal, State or Local Government to try to combat the problem.  Sheriff Craig Robertson added to Mr. Twigg’s comments, stating that Mr. Casey, along with other people, is under the idea that selling an item marked “not for human consumption” is acceptable, even though they know exactly what the item is being used for.  Sheriff Robertson mentioned that approximately six months ago, when he began visiting stores and actually making purchases himself of the synthetic drugs, he went to Mr. Casey’s establishment on Centre Street at the request of Delegate Kelly, who had received a call from Mr. Casey.  He said that upon entering the store, he spoke with a man behind the counter, identified later as Mr. Casey’s son, The man behind the counter apparently showed him vials of the synthetic marijuana and instructed him on how to smoke it.  He provided details as to how potent a substance was, and said that he told individuals who came in to purchase one item “to only take maybe three hits off of this at one time” and for another “just one hit”.  Based on this, it appears that those selling the substances know that it is not being used as “potpourri” or other legal items.  He stated that local law enforcement all recognize the selling of synthetic drugs as a problem and that all branches support the Bill. Kenneth Wilmot, 513 Fort Avenue, Cumberland, stated as usual that he spent 20 years in the military and went on to say further to say that he has lived in “just about every hellhole that you can imagine”, and that during his “tour of life” he has never smoked a cigarette and never drunk a beer, and that he doesn’t intend to start.  He said that he has watched many people ruin their lives, and that it has cost the taxpayers thousands of dollars; now it is costing the taxpayers more millions of dollars because people like Mr. Casey love money.  He feels that it is the only reason he is selling “the stuff” and that he (Mr. Wilmot) is 100 percent against any store selling it.  He also disagreed with a previous speaker’s claim that marijuana is not addictive and said that according to every medical report he has read that it will ruin your lungs and ruin your brain, and that it’s terrible.  He mentioned that Mafia runs the Country of Italy and convinced the government to legalize drugs, and now they have “the biggest problem in the world in Italy.”  Mr. Wilmot mentioned that he lived in Germany for 25 years and that he knows all about drugs.  He feels that what is sold “over the counter is only a pittance to what is sold under the counter.”  Mr. Wilmot said that he has witnessed drug transactions recently, and turned the information in to police, and that there is a big drug problem in Cumberland and in Allegany County.  He stated that he is in favor of a strict law, to include as many substances as needed. Mayor Flanigan of Frostburg let the Board know that Chief Douty and the Frostburg Police Department need all the help that they can render to curb the synthetic drug problem before it gets out of hand in the college community.  John Davis, of Cumberland, identified himself as someone who has run for office in both Allegany County and in the City of Cumberland.  He said that a lot of the people to whom he has spoken said that “it’s a good thing you guys are doing.”  He commented that “in some countries in the world, they would hang somebody like the guy on Puff n Stuff” and that drug laws are stricter overseas.  He thanked the Commissioners very much. John Steven Swygert, of Cumberland, identified himself as a citizen of Cumberland for 11 years, thanked the Commissioners and the citizens for his moment.  He said that it is a pleasure to see an emergency measure taking place for a “serious problem that is hurting our community.”  He said that he has seen it first-hand, that he has had friends tell him about families that are hurt by it, he has gone into the store and been told how to use the products, he has written letters and studied the issue.  He said that he grew up in Alexandria, Virginia, and watched the crack epidemic of the 1980s wipe out a lot of his friends while he was studying police science in college.  He said that this situation is “like an instant replay”, and that he is emotional about it because he is a passionate person, who wants to live in a community where “this stuff” doesn’t exist.  He said that he understands when you look at the chemical, molecular structures of cannabanoids or compounds that are amphetimines and cocaine, narcotic-based derivatives, what is happening is that for some of these substances that so far are outlawed by federal law, the chemist just manipulates the molecule so it doesn’t fit the same fingerprint that is already outlawed, and of course then there is a new compound that is still in the same family tree, probably more unpredictable. He feels that the problem is devastating the community, when the CEO of Western Maryland Health System has a blog on Blogger that says that on average, the hospital is getting over two overdose cases per day, and that obviously an emergency measure is needed.  He said that he appreciates a community that takes action and also appreciates the opportunity to be a “mere citizen” and have a voice here.  He voiced his concern that even if the products are taken out of the stores, they are still a huge moneymaker in mail order; there is always a “veil to hide behind”.  He feels that law enforcement is going to be a good step ahead, and he is glad that a good eye is being kept on things.  Mr. Swygert said that in light of what some of his personal friends have told him these synthetic drugs are doing to some of their family members, it infuriates him that “anybody could stand up here and morally feel like they have the fiber to even address everybody here when they are hurting the community and they should stop it, but their love for greed and money is better.”  He thanked the Commissioner again “for the moment”. Linda Burgess told of a recent experience when she went for a body massage, and the employees there were giving the substances to her and her daughter to take home.  It apparently had quite an effect on her when she used it in the bath.  Commissioner Valentine then spoke and voiced his surprise at some of Mr. Casey’s statements, such as that his sales have only risen since the article about the Bill was in the paper.  He said that would hope that Mr. Casey remembers visiting him in his office here several months ago, when he asked Mr. Valentine to try to stop Mr. Kelly’s attempts to have synthetic drugs made illegal in the State of Maryland.  He told Commissioner Valentine at the time that it would put him out of business because it accounted for about 60 percent of his annual sales.  He said that tells him that sales didn’t just go up after the newspaper article, and he went on to say that he finds a lot of irony in the statements that this substances are being produced by pharmaceutical companies, yet it is not for human consumption, and in pharmaceutical companies producing potpourri.  He feels that anyone in their right mind should know that it is just a cover for an illegal product that is causing tremendous harm to our community.  He said that he would rather hurt one business than hurt one youth in this County.  Mr. Casey spoke again from the audience, over objection of Commissioner McKay that “this is not a rebuttal”.  He said “I will pull it off my shelves; I have no problem with that.”  He said that, to be perfectly honest, the biggest problem he has is that his “customers know it’s their legal right.”  He said that whether anyone in this room likes it or not, that is what he has to deal with.  He said that if they tell him, right now, that they are going to put the same 30 chemicals in the Bill that the Federal government has put on, then he won’t have a problem with it.  He said that he can’t help that the companies are staying ahead.  He feels that everyone should come together as a group and be specific, extremely specific.  He said that he “will stop selling it tomorrow” if the Bill is specific enough that he won’t get complaints from his customers saying “it’s legal” – and it is. Commissioner McKay commented that he appreciates Mr. Casey’s point, but that it “is a moral choice”, to which Mr. Casey responded “but it’s also a legal choice.”  Commissioner McKay told him that whether legal or not, Mr. Casey is choosing to hurt our community.  He told Mr. Casey that he has the right to disagree with him and the right to be heard, but he does not have the right to be correct. Mr. Wilmot asked to add one more thing, and he addressed Mr. Casey, telling him that in his family, he has lost two close relatives in the past year to illegal drugs.  He said that these family members started when they were quite young, and they started on the substances that Mr. Casey is selling.  After the above public comments, Commissioner McKay asked County Attorney Rudd what the schedule is for the Bill.  County Attorney Rudd informed him that the Bill can be passed at the next Legislative Day, which is September 13, 2012, or at any Legislative Day thereafter.  He confirmed that this was just the hearing today, and that the Commissioners can leave it open for anyone who wishes to submit comments in writing to the Commissioners between now and the time that action is taken. Commissioner McKay asked if comments could also be made on the day action is taken, and County Attorney Rudd replied that is up to the Commissioners. Commissioner McKay stated that the Commissioners plan to take action at the September 13th public business meeting, which is being held in Frostburg,  and that comments either for or against the Bill are welcomed and can be made either prior to or at the meeting.   Commissioner McKay then closed the public hearing on Code Home Rule Bill 6-12. Item 4 – Resolution No. 12-21 – Allegany County – Resolution Granting Consent to the Transfer of Control of Cable Television Franchise – Attorney William M. Rudd discussed this Consent, which is for Atlantic Broadband.  They have been purchased by Cogeco Cable II, and the new operator has requested that the current franchise be assigned/transferred.  Attorney Rudd explained that none of the terms have changed, other than the entity who is selling the County its cable services.  Upon motion by Commissioner McKay, seconded by Commissioner Valentine, the Commissioners unanimously adopted Resolution 12-21. Item 5 – Resolution No. 12-22 –The “Bedford Road Sanitary District Sewer Rehabilitation Project Bond of 2012, Series B” – Jason M. Bennett, CPA, Director of Finance, asked for authorization to close on a $510,000 USDA loan for the Bedford Sanitary District Sewer and explained that this would be the second USDA loan the County has closed on in this District.  He provided a background of Code Home Rule Bill 1-12 and gave details of the loan, which would be a 40-year loan at 2 percent interest, to be paid with ad valorem.  He said that approval this evening, the loan should be closed by the end of September.   Upon motion of Commissioner Valentine, seconded by Commissioner McKay, the Commissioners unanimously adopted Resolution 12-22. Department of Economic & Community Development Item 6 – Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development-   Community Development Block Grant Application for Rawlings Water Project Phase 1 – Authorize the President of the Board of County Commissioners to sign a Grant Agreement with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development for Community Development Block Grant funding in the amount of $800,000 for construction of Phase 1 of the Rawlings Water System – David K. Nedved, Economic & Community Development Representative, provided background on this grant, which is needed to proceed with construction of a waterline in Rawlings.  The current waterline ends at American Woodmark on Route 220 in the Barton Business Park.  This first phase of the Rawlings Water Project would extend the waterline further south on Route 220 as far as Lilac Court and would include side streets up to Miller Avenue, including First Street, Byer Lane, Emily Street, Hawk Street, Merrill Lane, Skipton Lane, Summerfield Lane and Wilmar Lane.  Approximately 8,000 linear feet of waterline would be constructed using 8-inch pipe.   Mr. Nedved mentioned that he was told by Maryland DHCD that this was one of the better projects submitted and that it is very likely that DHCD will provide Allegany County with additional funding down the road to complete another phase for the project, possibly by just amending this present grant agreement.  Mr. Nedved asked the Commissioners to approve the Grant Agreement and to authorize to sign the Grant Agreement.  Upon motion of Commissioner McKay, and second by Commissioner Valentine, the Commissioners unanimously approved the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development – Community Development Block Grant for Rawlings Water Project Phase 1 and authorized the President to sign the Grant Agreement. Planning Services Item 7 – Fiscal Year 2013 Annual Plan for Program Open Space – Approve and authorize the Division of Planning Services to forward the Fiscal Year 2013 Annual Plan for Program Open Space to the Maryland Department of Planning and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources - David A. Dorsey, Acting Planning Coordinator referred to the Fiscal Year 2013 Annual Plan for Program Open Space that he presented at the August 23, 2012, public business meeting.  He requested approval of the Board to forward the Plan to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.  Upon motion of Commissioner McKay, seconded by Commissioner Valentine, the Commissioners unanimously approved the Fiscal Year 2013 Annual Plan for Program Open Space and authorized the County’s Division of Planning Services to forward the Plan to the Maryland Department of Planning and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.  CONSENT AGENDA As recommended by the County Administrator Upon motion by Commissioner Valentine, seconded by Commissioner McKay, and unanimously carried, the Consent Agenda as recommended by the County Administrator is adopted. Item 8 – Department of Public Works – Request for Travel – Natural Gas Utilization Conference – Authorized the County Commissioners to approve Paul F. Kahl, P.E., Christine A. Howard, and Brian C. McCormick, P.E. to travel outside Allegany County on September 6 and 7 to attend a Natural Gas Utilization Conference in State College, Pennsylvania at an estimated cost of $1,500.00. Item 9 – Appointment to the Allegany County Human Resources Development Board – Authorized the County Commissioners to appoint Sarah Bennett to fill the vacant position as a result of the resignation of Trudy Whitacre.  This term expire will expire January 2017. County Administrator – County Administrator David Eberly reminded everyone that the next public business meeting will be on Thursday, September 13th, 2012, at the Frostburg Community Center, 27 South Water Street, in Frostburg.  County Attorney Commissioners’ statements, comments, recognition – Commissioner Valentine, in place of Commissioner Brodie, reviewed the recent Commissioners’ calendar: Friday, August 24, 2012 Meeting with John Taube and Thomas Finan regarding needs of the Library System Sunday, August 26, 2012 Allegany-Garrett County Crimesolvers Picnic Monday, August 27, 2012 Town of Luke Constituents Meeting Tuesday, August 28, 2012 Chamber of Commerce Crab Feast Meeting Wednesday, August 29, 2012 Commissioner McKay’s meeting with Ingrid Turner, President of MACo, regarding the continual growth of the Rural Counties Coalition Meeting with Representatives of Potomac Edison/First Energy Thursday, August 30, 2012 Economic Development Meeting, Chamber of Commerce Commissioners Public Business Meeting Commissioner McKay announced some good news, that the Rural Counties Coalition has a new member, Somerset County.  They voted last evening to join, and they now make a total of seven Counties in the Coalition.  He said that he will update everyone in the future about the Coalition’s plans. . Constituents   - In order of sign-up sheet – Mr. Burgess read a letter on behalf of the Cumberland Historical Cemetery Organization voicing its support of Commissioner McKay in his prayers before the County meetings.  The letter he read described the founding fathers of our nation as “Godly men” and said that “we want to be also.”  The Organization’s letter went on to ask the Commissioner to “please don’t let one or two people to take away your and my freedom”, stated that “Christian and Jewish faiths are the backbone of the American nation and our culture”, and asked the Commissioners to “stand against the ongoing war against the Jewish and Christian faith.”  Those signing the letter included Edward W. Taylor, Jr., President of the Cumberland Historical Cemetery Organization, and its executive board members, Mr. and Mrs. Burgess. Mr. Kenneth Wilmot, 513 Fort Avenue, Cumberland, spoke about a report he heard on the radio this morning, that some people stated that the City Council had no right to start their meeting with a prayer, and that the Supreme Court said that it is perfectly okay.  Mr. Wilmot then asked his usual questions about the Animal Shelter, regarding the pit bull bite issue.  Commissioner McKay told him that the taxpayers are not paying the cost of the incident.  Mr. Wilmot then asked who is paying for it, and Commissioner answered that the victim’s parents are taking care of it.  He went on to ask about the dog that bit the victim.  He said that he feels that any animal who bites should be “put down and checked for rabies – that’s the law – every animal bite in Allegany County is required to be reported to the Health Department.”  Commissioner McKay told Mr. Wilmot that Mr. Devore has that under control.  As Mr. Wilmot went on asking questions, Commissioner McKay reminded him that Mr. Devore tried to talk to him today about his questions, and that Mr. Wilmot was not interested in talking to him.  Mr. Wilmot asked if Commissioner McKay wanted to hear what he told Mr. Devore, and he went on to make negative comments about Mr. Devore.  He said that he did not want to have any dealings with him, except in a Court of law. Commissioner McKay told Mr. Wilmot that Mr. Devore is the gentleman that this Board of County Commissioners has determined will be in charge of Animal Control and the Animal Shelter, and that if Mr. Wilmot feels he is not getting a proper response from him or from the Commissioners, then it is his option to take legal action.  Mr. Wilmot discussed a conversation he had with a person last week; this person apparently called 911 during the night to ask for help regarding a neighbor’s pit bull barking, and he was told that there was nothing they could do for him.  The neighbor told him that he had called a few times previously about the same issue.  Mr. Wilmot wondered, “what we are paying taxes for?”  He then said that a few days later, the situation resulted in an altercation between the owner of the pit bull and the person who called; when another neighbor had called about the same animal, the next day that person’s tires were slashed.  He feels that there is a definite problem with this pit bull, and he would Animal Control to be told that when someone calls about a problem, someone needs to respond. Commissioner McKay discussed with him the procedure that has to be followed to complain about a barking dog.  He also discussed two options available to Mr. Wilmot:  either to run for County Commissioner himself, or to hire legal counsel and file suit against the County. Reminders/Upcoming Meetings Next Public Business Meeting – September 13, 2012, 5 p.m., in Frostburg Announcement – County Labor Day Schedule (see News Release) ADJOURNMENT:             There being no further business to come to the attention of the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m.

 

MY ORIGINAL REPORT:  May 5, 2012

A Plethora of updated links follows my article below...

Despite the best efforts of federal authorities, legislators, and law enforcement, there is a massive growing problem.

The term "legal weed" covers a vast array of an herbal chemical mix which is a conglomeration of cannabinoids and Lysergic acid diethylamide(LSD) like structures when studied on a molecular level.

Update July 9, 2012:President Obama signs new law banning bath salts

UNITED STATES -- President Obama signed off on a new law banning the production and sale of bath salts nationwide on Monday.

Senator Charles Schumer applauded the president's swift action in signing the legislation, which he authored. Schumer calls it the nail in the coffin of the drug that was at one time legally sold in smoke shops and convenience stores.

Bath salts and synthetic marijuana are the target of the new ban. Bath salts are known to produce hallucinations, extreme paranoia and irrational and violent behavior in its users.

Schumer says the law also closes any loop holes for drug makers.

A broad range of chemical compounds, 31 in all, used in the production of bath salts and synthetic marijuana were also made illegal in the legislation.

http://watertown.ynn.com/content/top_stories/590953/president-obama-signs-new-law-banning-bath-salts/

"Bath Salts" are similar in some characteristics as well, and have an amphetamine like effect. Just think, "crystal meth".

Sometimes these chemicals are sprayed onto these herbal "potpourris" (LW), and sometimes it is genetically spliced into the plants DNA to be grown into it...THAT IS A FACT. Other times it is distributed as a powder, most notably in the form the bath salts (BS).

It is obviously not good stuff...I am all for medicinal natural marijuana (MJ), however on the other hand, this synthetic garbage being sold is pure EVIL.

It sounds to me as the man who ate another mans face in Florida and the man in Hacken sack, NJ a day later, were both using legal weed, bath salts, or a cocktail of illicit/perscription drugs. (these suspicions in the FL incident have been unconfirmed through the legal autopsy results, although, some of these drugs are hard to test for when an unknown chemical or compound is sought...I hope blood and tissue has been saved for further future analysis)

My suspicions (from a separate incident, Brandon DeLeon arrest) are partially confirmed as I added this after the original blog post, from the article in the link to follow below:

"In addition to the Cloud Nine, police also believe De Leon finished off a bottle of rum and was working on a beverage called Four Loko, which combines alcohol and caffeine. He tested positive for marijuana, Xanax and alcohol."

http://news.yahoo.com/miami-police-warn-drug-grisly-attack-055505712.html;_ylt=AirRC1bbntvRytj2a5l30rmmWot4;_ylu=X3oDMTQ3OTExdmY1BG1pdANBcnRpY2xlIFRvcFN0b3JpZXMEcGtnA2EyZDU1MWFjLTc5ODMtMzQ4ZC1iYWVkLWI1YjNmN2IzMTEwYgRwb3MDNgRzZWMDTWVkaWFTZWN0aW9uTGlzdFRlbXAEdmVyAzg0ODZhZTcwLWIwNjUtMTFlMS1iZmY5LTAzZmNhMjc5OGVlYg--;_ylg=X3oDMTNyN3NuMHVjBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDYmRhZmQwYmUtMGZlZS0zYzJhLTkzZjEtOTViZWNkYWM1MDA2BHBzdGNhdANwb2xpdGljc3xwb2xpdGljcyUyRkRlc3RpbmF0aW9uJTI1MjAyMDEyBHB0A3N0b3J5cGFnZQ--;_ylv=3

Zombies are all around! ...open the eyes...OUTLAW THIS GARBAGE IN EVERY STATE !!!...and outlaw the chemicals that can be so easily mail ordered and delivered to your door.

On a recent special on television (Dateline NBC), I saw where a $ 4000 investment can garner profits of over $ 250,000 in sales.

That is not a misprint...$ 250,000!

http://www.thepoisonreview.com/2011/05/24/nbcs-dateline-goes-undercover-to-investigate-the-bath-salt-industry/

On a local level here at home, our local sub shop in town, (to mention one place) "Dolly's" in Cumberland, Maryland, sells it (legal weed)  but yet a few miles away in WV it is illegal...it's got to go!

I am unsure whether they sell the bath salts or not, however do not be lead to believe that the LW does not contain the same chemicals found in some BS.

This was disturbing as I found these littered at the top of Williams Road in Cumberland, Maryland on Iron's Mountain at the orchards, a favorite scenic pace I enjoy visiting often.

It even states on the packaging, as you may clearly observe that it is barely legal!

It is also known a "WHACKED", again sounds like a very nice floral name for a potpourri! (sarcasm, of course)

I am happy to report as of August 12, 2012, this site is not up and running currently!

If it was truly potpourri and not intended for human consumption, would anyone feel the need to use the marketingly enticing name "barely-legal-potpourri"?

Here is another blogger's REVIEW of WHACKED:

TUESDAY, JULY 5, 2011

Herbal Incense Review: Barely Legal Wacked ( 7/10)

Today I'm going to be reviewing the new blend from Barely Legal called Wacked. Wacked is supposedly 10x stronger than the original Barely Legal blend, but 1g of Barely Legal Wacked costs around $25, while 1g of original blend Barely Legal is about $10.

The Wacked blend looks very fluffy and herby, and has sort of a very mild sweet/sour taste. The taste and feel and burn are pretty good, and the taste isn't bad really. Not great though.

The feeling is pretty much what you would expect if you've had Barely Legal's other blends. The feeling feels like an even more intense Barely Legal high, and a little less lazy feeling. While it IS more intense and stronger than original blend, it certainly didn't feel 10X stronger, and hardy worth $25 for 1g which is why this blend gets a 7/10 review score.

If you're not sure what to expect from Barely Legal, check out my Barely Legal Original Blend review.

http://incensedepot.blogspot.com/

Here are some more reviews from users as well.

http://www.herbalincenseguide.com/2011/05/revamped-revisited-barely-legal-barely_31.html

http://barely-legal-incense.com/

The Growing New Problem vs. Historical Drug Issues:

LEGAL WEED and BATH SALTS, right now today, is AKIN to the CRACK EPIDEMIC of the 80's when Columbia in particular had an over abundance of Cocaine and a chemist decided to combine a few more chemicals with raw coke to make a more powerful, more addictive drug, with a higher profit margin, that exactly like this stuff, can be packaged in small quantities with reasonable prices (for a drug addict) and take advantage of pushing small amounts at high profit margins and also equally take advantage of the addictiveness of these compounds on the user.

TO TOP THAT OFF...the way prescriptions are dished out like candy, when combined with this garbage there can be an exponential and devastating effect...but it is all about the Benjamins baby!

On a side note...NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD...the original, was partially filmed right here in Cumberland, Maryland.

It is even mentioned (the town itself) in the movie. Most of the film was indeed filmed in Pittsburgh, only 125 miles away.

...talk about projection !!!

Here is a link to the fact that this town was mentioned:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECTBfVx6TdE

Since first writing this article on my blog, we now have a local arrest reported on all of our local media that is at this link, and may be found in the links below as well.

http://www.wcbcradio.com/?news=bath-salts-making-national-headlines

Back to the seriousness at hand however, Legal Weed and Bath Salts each contains chemicals which are synthetic, and, in particular, are not able to be processed by our bodies and the affects and effects are abundantly clear once consumed

Why does it take so long to outlaw this GARBAGE?

This garbage kills, has killed, and it will continue to kill.

It (both LW and BS) needs to be ban in our country as well as prosecuted to the fullest extent, for usage or sales, once finally made illegal.

If a sub-shop has to sell it (LW) to be profitable and stay in business or because they are just plain greedy...well then WTF is our country coming too?

I pray for my friends and hope this is read well, re-posted often, encourage you to share it and do your own due diligence and research, and if you have kids, watch their behavior very, very closely.

Here is where we are on a legal front today:

http://www.thepoisonreview.com/2011/03/02/synthetic-legal-marijuana-banned-by-the-fda/

"The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) yesterday published a Final Order prohibiting the sale and possession of 5 research chemicals used to manufacture so-called “synthetic legal marijuana”. These products, often sold as incense and bearing the caveat “not for human consumption”, are now considered Schedule I substances. The DEA acted under its emergency scheduling authority, and the ban will be in place for a least a year while further studies are conducted.

In the Final Order, the FDA cited signs and symptoms reported to be caused by “fake pot”: seizures, anxiety attacks, tachycardia, hypertension, vomiting, and altered mental status.

GThe 5 substances covered by the ban are: JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-200, CP-47497, and cannabicyclohexanol."

OTHER NEWER LEGISLATION:

I have quoted from CumberlandChat.com in a forum I started:

Posted by: Voice of Reason

« Reply #6 on: August 14, 2012, 09:38:53 PM »

• Quote

H.R. 1254: Synthetic Drug Control Act of 2011 (is the one just signed other on the books this year
Combating Dangerous Synthetic Stimulants Act of 2011 (H.R.
1571, S. 409); the Synthetic Drug Control Act of 2011 (H.R. 1254) and its companion bill—the
Dangerous Synthetic Drug Control Act of 2011 (also known as the David Mitchell Rozga Act, S.
605); and the Combating Designer Drugs Act of 2011 (S. 839).

and:

S 3187 (which was just signed 2 weeks ago) took care of that problem with the wording "like substances" which covers all synthetic cannaboids & the active ingredients in the bath salts. Now they will have to go after all of the herbal products being sold as herbal incense which right now is still legal and being sold in the area. they are just combining rarer and rarer herbs to get the same effect. examples are Salvia Divinorum, Kratom, Hawaiian Baby Woodrose, Wormwood (The stuff they made absinthe from), D.M.T., California Poppy, Coleus, Datura, Brugmansia, Black Henbane, Syrian Rue, and many many more

http://www.cumberlandchat.com/smf/index.php/topic,15582.0.html

So again, what the chemists at these companies, or hired by these companies, have done is made nearly identical compounds with a slightly different molecular fingerprint to skirt the laws, and this in itself is immoral at the least, if not just down right criminal by nature, and in my perception it roots in greed and deception.

Nothing good grows from the seeds or roots of greed and deception and Justice must be performed, and quickly.

A "blanket" law would work well for these compounds.

Some law when written is very specific and unable to be interpreted any other way, while other law is written in a broad nature so that it may be interpreted as needed when and how the time calls.

Wording such as, "any chemical or compound determined to be in the same molecular chemical family as those already outlawed shall be deemed also illegal by such legislation already passed in any respective jurisdiction.", for example.

Simple modern science, such as spectography, can show molecular genetics akin to biological genetics in living tissues, and it is quite obvious in any lab which compounds are family with other compounds.

This first answer at Ask.com is accurate from my formal educations perspective.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_spectography

To further understand spectography and mass spectography here are a couple of links that are simple "reads" to get you started on your own research.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrograph

http://mlg07.dsi.unifi.it/pdf/36_Blockeel.pdf

This garbage (LW and BS)is obviously not a joke!

Write you local, state and federal representatives...take a few minutes to make a change today that will save the lives of many...or let time continue to pass, and watch more horrific outcomes such as what happened in FL.

Here are a few links for Maryland and some Federal representatives:

Cumberland:

Mayor Brian Grim:
http://www.electbriangrim.com/

State:

Local, Cumberland, Maryland Congressional Representative:
http://www.house.gov/htbin/findrep?ZIP=21502
Local (State) Senators:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?State=MD

Feds: find your state here by Zip on the page that opens...look in the upper right corner.

Congress:
http://www.house.gov/
Senate:
http://www.senate.gov/

DEA:

http://www.justice.gov/dea/

Activism through efficient coordination and proper language is often the most effective way to be heard and make a difference, so I urge you to please write these officials, and later I will add a form email to copy and paste, as well as a link to a petition I am starting.

Perhaps it was not this drug category per se in the Florida attack...but just wait...I feel 100% certain it was this drug at least and perhaps even worse off, in a cocktail of other drugs and prescriptions that made one man, "eat the face off" off of another man, costing one life thus far, and maybe two...or maybe more in this situation as time passes and more unfolds...but you do not have to wait for toxicology results in this particular scenario to be PROACTIVE. (again unfounded in the later released autopsy not yet available when i wrote this)

As you wait to do something, or choose to do nothing...perhaps your children are smoking, snorting, or shooting this concoction of POISON right now!

Harsh perhaps, yes, but the truth is not an easy "pill" to swallow either at times...so help prevent the failures we suffer today by speaking out and making a difference.

How dumbed down do we really need to get?...Is that spelled correctly?...I just simply hope if you read this far you know me, know who and what I am talking about and take a pro-active stance in this dire time with these new "synthetic" drugs.

They are not yet out-lawed in many jurisdictions because they each have their own unique molecular fingerprint, and aye...now there is the legal rub...and the manufacturers know this, and those that sell it know this!!!

Even though it is stated on the packing to not be used for personal consumption, it is smoked and/or snorted or injected everyday across our country, and often by hard core drug users as well as children experimenting.

There is not one salesperson out there that thinks anyone that buys this is actually using it as anything other then a drug!

The retailers will tell you what the "people/users" that buy it like about using it, and which ones do certain things and also what effects to expect.

Be it mellow, energetic, trippin, etc...I am sure you get the picture.

It is marketed in small quantities (as little as a gram or less), often in zip lock pouches, with magnificient colors and art work. (LW)

Some packages with a funky party alligator, some even with a picture of a skull or death, etc., again I am sure you get the picture.

Some pictures are provided below.

I would compare this marketing strategy to Camel cigarettes and Joe Camel of old, and we all know the story behind why that advertising was legally forced to change, as it has a direct influence on the "youth", so as to look appealing and attract their attention and further glamorize and make it's usage appear even more trendy, cool, and fun.

There is a ton of psychology in all advertising, simply Marketing 101.

As if there is not enough peer pressure on children already.

There is a plethora of varieties of both Legal Weed and Bath Salts on the market, all very popular and all very unpredictable!!!

I speak not from an uninformed ill advised uneducated opinion, but from a life of personal experience, research, and observation in my community where I reside.

I watched friends and a nation get throttled by crack cocaine in the 80's when it was first introduced.

I now see friends getting destroyed in an often vegatative state while under the influence of this stuff, as well as watch a craving that develops quickly in the user, often after only one use!

I see an eerily similar pattern today, of instant insanity, addiction, and a lot of the same or similarly insane side effects, and know perhaps some even more horrific new side effects.

Many users resort to these substances so that they can pass drugs tests from their respective employers or parole/probation officers, if not both.

This sadly only increases the demand for these chemical compounds and herbal mixtures.

The issue above is that some people would use marijuana if it were legal, and not suffer the ill effects and addiction seen with these compounds.

Marijuana, with it's very well known and predictable effects, as well as it's excellent benefits for those that are physically ill, is the safe and proven alternative, and the main point is that if it was fully legal, less people as opposed to more would use it instead of these other compounds.

Less usage of these compounds means less expenditures for law enforcement, less problems with families and addiction, and less pain and suffering for anyone closely related to a user, and ultimately less tax money from the citizens to treat these individuals and right their wrongs upon society that we always ultimately pay for.

Illicit drugs sold illegally (and now some legally) are always about CASH (greed), and never about anything else.

Bath Salts:

Now a little more about the specific phenomena of bath salts.

" Based on a 2011 report from the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the LSD-like bath salts contain amphetamine-like chemicals, and can be very dangerous to a user. "

http://www.examiner.com/article/zombie-attack-miami-fueled-by-bath-salts

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All of these pictures are featured at the link below: 

http://k2spice.blogspot.com/p/images.html

Here are some more great links:

I am not such a large fan of the SOPA legislation, however, it would take care of sites like this in an instant!

This site should be shut down right away!!!

http://www.tradett.com/products/u46932p499314/mephedrone-lsd-mdma-mdpv-ketaminelegal-weed.html

quoted right from the site itself!

"Dear Clients

                We are Suppliers top Quality Research Drugs and Chemicals,we do Shipment Across USA,EUROPE,ASIA,SOUTH AMERICA.Transportation is very Discreet and takes a max of 3 days for the parcel to be at your delivery address.

              Supply and Transportation is very discreet and SURE and TIMELY.
                                         
                                BELOW IS THE LIST OF OUR PRODUCTS;
Nephedrone
Mephedrone (4-MMC,4-Methylmethcathinone)
Mdma pills and powder
Flephedrone (4-FMC, 4-Fluoromethcathinone)
Methedrone (BK-PMMA, Methoxyphedrine)
4-Fluoromethamphetamine (4-FMA)
Methylone (BK-MDMA)
a-Pyrrolidinopropiophenone (a-PPP).
Butylone (BK-MBDB)
MDPV (Methylenedioxypyrovalerone, MDPK)
JWH-073, 1-butyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole
Dimethocaine (Larocaine/DMC)
NRG-2
NRG-3
JWH-018, 1-Pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole
Mephetamine
Xanan
DMT
6-APDB
KETAMINE
AND OTHER

Please do include your email address on the reques form when contacting.

Thanks"


Updated July 19,  2012:

The local rumor from the rumor mill to share is, that our sub shop (Dolly's) in town no longer sells legal weed or bath salts.

I also hear through the rumor mill:

There was great local scrutiny because they were grossing $ 28, 000 per month, and everyone knows that is not from selling subs.

Great news, I think, as I hear they stopped selling it there, but apparently the temptation of profit is just to high so it has been transitioned to another location, the pawn/porn shop in town about 150 yards away, and again, as rumor has it, this is more then likely very true.

It sounds to me like the owners are the same or are at least in cahoots, and everyone that uses this garbage shares this knowledge quickly.

Another report by rumor says that their are some great sales on some of it too because it is so close to becoming out lawed!

More sales tactics to get rid of stock and cause a buying frenzy!...however true it may even be.

So what we have here in reality is super profit made legally, repeat business from addiction and ease of access, and a proliferation of problems (health and crime) that are only starting to be recognized and not even yet close to fully understood.

There are schools located very close to these locations in our town, and the sub shop and pawn/porn shop is not the only place selling this stuff.

Another factor I hear from a few folks is that many people are creepily waiting for this business to open each day to get some "stuff".

I have even heard the owner has an unmarked former law enforcement car.

Things are getting weirder, if that is true.

I know when I drive by that way on Centre Street, here in Cumberland, Maryland, I see a completely different "element" of shady people now that I had never seen before, and nothing else has changed at all down there at these locations.

I definitely see a strong addiction happening with these substances as well as super cravings and the need to steal for it in some instances as so reported, as our sub shop was broken into for example a while ago.

I doubt anyone broke in to make a sub from scratch!

I hope eyes open to the truths about this garbage!

The owner has to keep his supply of either LW and/or BS in a case to make it portable and makes it clear that it is not left in the store after hours, as he explained this directly to me one day as I was in the shop on  June 7th of 2012!

So here is a link to the shops robbery:

http://times-news.com/policelog/x1942920679/8-13-City-sub-shop-reports-theft/print
Also in Cumberland, Maryland we have a great site that will keep anyone up to date on all the local activities about virtually any topic as well as let you share your voice with candid great conversation.
Please visit http://www.CumberlandChat.com about this specific topic here:
 http://www.cumberlandchat.com/smf/index.php/topic,15582.0.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FROM THE WHITE HOUSE WEBSITE:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/ondcp-fact-sheets/synthetic-drugs-k2-spice-bath-salts

Synthetic Drugs (a.k.a. K2, Spice, Bath Salts, etc.)

Synthetic Drugs

Overview and History

• Synthetic marijuana (often known as “K2” or “Spice”) and bath salts products are often sold in legal retail outlets as “herbal incense” and “plant food,” respectively, and labeled “not for human consumption” to mask their intended purpose and avoid FDA regulatory oversight of the manufacturing process.
• Synthetic marijuana consists of plant material that has been laced with substances (synthetic cannabinoids) that users claim mimics Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol(THC), the primary psychoactive active ingredient in marijuana, and are marketed toward young people as a “legal” high.
• Use of synthetic marijuana is alarmingly high. According to data from the 2011 Monitoring the Future survey of youth drug-use trends, 11.4 percent of 12^th graders used Spice or K2 in the past year, making it the second most commonly used illicit drug among seniors.
• Bath salts contain manmade chemicals related to amphetamines that often consist of methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), mephedrone, and methylone, also known as substituted cathinones.
• The Administration has been working over the past 24 months with Federal, Congressional, State, local, and non-governmental partners to put policies and legislation in place to combat this threat, and to educate people about the tremendous health risk posed by these substances.

A Rapidly Emerging Threat

• Synthetic cannabinoids in herbal incense products were first detected in the United States in November 2008, by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) forensic laboratory. These products were first encountered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
• According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, 2,906 calls relating to human exposure to synthetic marijuana were received in 2010. Twice that number (6,959) were received in 2011, and 639 had been received as of January 2012 (see chart at right).
• According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, the number of calls related to bath salt exposure received by poison control centers across the country increased by more than 20 times in 2011 alone, up from 304 in 2010 to 6,138 (see chart at left).

Risk to the Public Health

• Health warnings have been issued by numerous State and local public health authorities and poison control centers describing the adverse health effects associated with the use of synthetic cannabinoids, substituted cathinones, and their related products.
• The effects of synthetic marijuana include agitation, extreme nervousness, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia (fast, racing heartbeat), elevated blood pressure, tremors and seizures, hallucinations, and dilated pupils. Similar to the adverse effects of cocaine, LSD and methamphetamine, bath salt use is associated with increased heart rate and blood pressure, extreme paranoia, hallucinations, and violent behavior, which causes users to harm themselves or others.

Sources and Continuing Availability

• According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a number of synthetic marijuana and bath salts products appear to originate overseas and are manufactured in the absence of quality controls and devoid of governmental regulatory oversight.
• Law enforcement personnel have also encountered the manufacture of herbal incense products in such places as residential neighborhoods. These products and associated synthetic cannabinoids are readily accessible via the Internet.
• The large profits from sales, plus the fact that these chemicals can be easily synthesized to stay one step ahead of control, indicate there is no incentive to discontinue retail distribution of synthetic cannabinoid products under the current statutory and regulatory scheme.

Government Efforts to Ban Synthetic Drug Products

• The DEA and State drug control agencies have recognized the need to monitor and, when necessary, control these chemicals. The Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 amends the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to allow the Attorney General to place a substance temporarily in Schedule I when it is necessary to avoid an imminent hazard to the public safety (21 U.S.C. § 811(h)).
• On October 21, 2011, DEA exercised its emergency scheduling authority to control some of the synthetic substances used to manufacture bath salts; these synthetic stimulants are now designated as Schedule I substances.
• In March 2011, five synthetic cannabinoids were temporarily categorized as Schedule I substances under the CSA. Unless permanently controlled, the ban on these five substances is set to expire in March 2012.
• At least 38 states have taken action to control one or more of these chemicals. Prior to 2010, synthetic cannabinoids were not controlled by any State or at the Federal level.
• Congress has taken initial steps to ban many of these substances, and the Administration has sought to support their efforts.
• The Synthetic Drug Control Act (HR 1254) was approved by the House of Representatives on December 8, 2011. The Department of Justice has issued a “views letter” in support of the Act.
• In the Senate, several pieces of legislation concerning synthetic drugs are pending, including one that deals specifically with synthetic cannabinoids.

SOURCE:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/ondcp-fact-sheets/synthetic-drugs-k2-spice-bath-salts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER RELATED LINKS OF CONCERN:

08-16-2012:

Barry P. Ronan

WMHS President and CEO
 

http://theronanreport.blogspot.com/2012/08/what-day-at-wmhs.html

skipped first paragraph;

Simultaneous to the Project Fit kickoff, Dr. George Garrow, Chief Medical Officer for WMHS, was hosting about a 150 people at a forum on Bath Salts. The panel that he assembled was excellent and the program was extremely informative, as well as, very well received by all attendees. Physicians, nurses, other staff, Health Department. employees, community counselors, prison officials and others were in attendance. Between comments from yesterday's audience and very positive postings on Facebook, the demand for additional sessions on this topic is great. WMHS will hold another forum next month. After the lunchtime forum, there was then a special training session for law enforcement on Bath Salts. Law enforcement officers from Cumberland, the Sheriff's Office, the State Police and other jurisdictions were in attendance. That session was also well received. 

Because of the seriousness of the Bath Salts issue, WMHS will remain in the forefront of increased community awareness, community education, education of professionals and certainly caring for patients who fall victim to a bath salts overdose. Our ultimate goal is to have our youth as well as our adult population focus on more health and wellness related activities such as Project Fit so there is no longer an interest in or a market for head shops selling Bath Salts.

08-13-2012:

http://theronanreport.blogspot.com/2012/08/bath-salts-part-ii.html

Author: Barry P. Ronan, WMHS President and CEO

Monday, August 13, 2012Bath Salts (Part II)

There was a great article in yesterday's Cumberland Times News about the bath salts epidemic facing our community.

A link to the article is attached.

This week the Western Maryland Health System is sponsoring a community wide presentation on the bath salts issue.

The program is open to physicians, nurses, social workers, school nurses, principals and corrections staff.

Dr. George Garrow, Chief Medical Officer for WMHS, will present along with our Trauma Nurse Coordinator, Chuck Barrick; Dr. Christine Lee, a WMHS staff Psychiatrist; Rebecca Myers, Program Director for the Health Department's Outpatient Addictions; and Capt. James Pyles, Maryland State Police.

There will be a case presentation, a review of the growing incidents as a result of bath salts and the impact on the ED, review of clinical issues related to bath salts and Q&A for attendees.

Following the community wide presentation is a similar presentation for 30 members of area law enforcement.

A training session will be held with some of the same panel expertise that participated in the community wide meeting.

This epidemic is spreading with overdoses related to bath salts being seen in our ED each day.

In addition, the head shops that sell the bath salts are opening throughout the region with increased frequency.

http://times-news.com/latest_news/x1555259886/Bath-salts-A-very-bad-problem
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JULY 26, 2012:  
Barry P. Ronan ~ WMHS President and CEO http://theronanreport.blogspot.com/2012/07/bath-salts-new-drug-of-choice.html

Bath Salts: The New Drug of Choice  
Now these are not the kind of bath salts that one can buy at Bath and Body Works; they are synthetic drugs that can be purchased legally over the counter.  They are chemicals that look like cocaine, but are not intended for human consumption; however, they are being sold as such and have become the new drug of choice.  They are legal because as soon as the main ingredients are banned by law, the manufacturers in Pakistan, Afghanistan and other such countries change one molecule or compound and the ingredient can be called something else.  There is no dosage and for $20 you can get high for a day, three days, end up in the Emergency Room, in the Intensive Care Unit or dead.  You can smoke it, snort it, inject it, insert it rectally or swallow it.

The WMHS ED is averaging two overdoses per day as these have a profound effect on the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system.  We have had patients end up in ICU, near death as a result of the synthetic drug or their actions while in an enraged state resulting from the drug.   We have had teenagers, pregnant moms and even a grandmother in the ED due to an overdose.  We have had a 130-pound young man who overdosed on bath salts and in such a rage that he jumped through glass windows of the homes of strangers; it took three large men to subdue him then transport him to the hospital. 

A new bath salts convenience store recently opened about two miles from my house so I ride by it every day.   Each time, day or night, the parking lot is almost full.  Their patrons are of all ages, sizes, shapes and colors.  Even the County Sheriff went in uniform and purchased bath salts to prove a point.  We have to figure out a way to get the message out as to the dangers associated with bath salts and other synthetic drugs without introducing young unassuming teens with an insatiable curiosity to this newly crowned drug of choice.

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08-17-2012:

August 17, 2012

Mountain City mayor changes mind on bath salt ordinance

Officials will work with other municipalities to address abuse problem

http://times-news.com/latest_news/x1685969304/Mountain-City-mayor-changes-mind-on-bath-salt-ordinance

08-16-2012:

Use of any drug carries a risk with it, not just this one

http://times-news.com/letters2/x257407851/Use-of-any-drug-carries-a-risk-with-it-not-just-this-one


More recently (08-12-2012 ~ today as I am adding this link) we now have a local man allegedly on BS, as you can read this article for yourself.
Update from our Local Paper The Cumberland Times News August 12, 2012:
August 11, 2012

Bath salts: A ‘very bad problem’

Synthetic drug use causing alarm among local officials

Jeffrey AldertonCumberland Times-News

http://times-news.com/latest_news/x1555259886/Bath-salts-A-very-bad-problem

Update from our Local Paper The Cumberland Times News August 07, 2012:

Man, 25, among those charged - 08/06

CUMBERLAND — 

"City police arrested Kevin Paul Bailey, 25, Cumberland, Saturday on a warrant for breaking and entering and assaults June 10 at residences on Shriver Avenue and Pulaski Streets.

Bailey is alleged to have been under the influence of bath salts at the time. Police said he was restrained by the Pulaski Street homeowner until police arrived.

Bailey had to be restrained by officers during an ambulance ride to the Cumberland hospital where he was admitted. He is currently in the Allegany County Detention Center on a bond of $30,000."

http://times-news.com/policelog/x1962241378/Man-25-among-those-charged-08-06

Here is a great link to the Maryland Judiciary case Search:

 http://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/inquiry/inquirySearchParam.jis

Type that name in there and narrow down the search to our county here in Cumberland, Maryland, Allegany County.

Wow!
Bet he is out soon doing it all over again too!
I also imagine this does not bode to well for anyone's active custody hearing either!

08-07-2012:

My Comment to WCBC Radio~Cumberland Maryland:

One Response to “Bath Salts Making National Headlines”

1. 
   

   August 07, 2012 at 7:23 am, steve swygert said:

   I am glad to see you covering topics with weight here on WCBC…thanks for helping to keep our community informed.
   Here is a link article at my blog that has unfortunately been read more often in a month, then what I had published at The United States Department of Energy nearly two years ago. (you may have to copy and paste it into your browser)
   I hope you will share this so that others may be made aware of the exact confounding issue these chemicals cause be it in legislative measures that are difficult to pass and then enforce due to the chemistry itself of these compounds, as well as the dire circumstances and ultimately death these new designer drugs can be attributed to.
   Ultimately it is education, awareness, and voicing our dis-pleasures with these compounds in our communities that are tearing families apart and adding fuel to the criminal issues right here at home, much less across our great nation.
   I suggest also learning the tell-tale signs of use, especially if your a parent, and seeking treatment for the abuser involved.
   The article is updated with new links often so anyone can research the issue for themselves and draw their own conclusions.
   Thanks again for keeping us on top of our local important issues!
   follows this link:

http://www.wcbcradio.com/?news=bath-salts-making-national-headlines

END  of  ARTICLE ~ WITH LINKS BELOW:

UPDATES AND LINKS SECTION TO RELATED MATERIAL AND STORIES:

08-14-2012: The Cumberland Times News,

"Sunday’s coverage in the Times-News about the escalating problem of bath salts abuse should serve as a wakeup call for the entire region.

As staff writer Jeff Alderton reported, the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center is seeing an average of one case per day. Allegany County State’s Attorney Michael Twigg called the sales and use of bath salts in the county “a very bad problem.” "

http://times-news.com/editorials/x1040821205/Bath-salts


http://times-news.com/opinion/x1040821199/Make-bath-salt-sales-illegal-before-this-tragedy-is-repeated

08-11-2012:

http://times-news.com/local/x1555259886/Bath-salts-A-very-bad-problem

08-12-2012

Bath Salts, Fake Weed Now Health Violations In NY 08-08-2012

http://gothamist.com/2012/08/07/new_doh_regulation_makes_bath_salts.php

Updated August 9, 2012:

Drugs

Bath Salts, Synthetic Marijuana Can Now be Drug Tested (Hallelujah)

By Dennis Romero Thu., Aug. 9 2012 at 8:01 AM

http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2012/08/drug_testing_synthetic_marijuama_bath_salts.php

Updated 08-03-2012:

Great Show from CNBC, very conclusive program representing both sides of this issue.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/42767515/
   
LATEST UPDATE 06-25-2012:

PALMETTO, FLORIDA, ANOTHER ZOMBIE LIKE ATTACK

Like Miami 'zombie' face-eating attack, Charles Baker gets naked, eats human flesh, deputies say

Read more: http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/news_archives/like-miami-zombie-face-eating-attack-charles-baker-gets-naked-eats-human-flesh-deputies-say#ixzz1ysCqSJg5

FIRST STORY FROM 05-28-2012:

http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/news_archives/like-miami-zombie-face-eating-attack-charles-baker-gets-naked-eats-human-flesh-deputies-say

HEADLINES:

Florida man eats part of victim's face (05-28-2012), and in another incident Hackensack NJ man stabs and cuts self and throws his own skin and some of his intestines at the police (05-29-2012) just two days apart! 

http://abcnews.go.com/topics/lifestyle/health/synthetic-marijuana.htm
"Doctor: Seizures Like Demi Moore's Seen 'Quite Often' After Smoking Spice

Mon, 30 Jan 2012

said. WATCH a "20/20" report on spiceand bath salts. In the tape, a female smoked something." "It's not marijuanabut it's similar to -- it's similar Incense" is an alternate name for Spice and related products. Spice and related products have often been used by teens to mimic the effects of marijuana and other drugs. According to Ryan..."

Here is one prime example, here is a great website to shut down right away.

http://www.tradett.com/products/u46932p499314/mephedrone-lsd-mdma-mdpv-ketaminelegal-weed.html

Florida timeline and video links: WARNING, VIDEO MAY BE GRAPHIC:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/30/2824430/timeline-here-are-the-key-moments.html

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/29/2822971/new-video-shows-more-grisly-detail.html

Florida attack:

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/29/11935305-what-caused-naked-face-chewing-attack-bath-salts-lsd?lite
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Hackensack-Man-Stabs-Self-Cuts-Skin-Intestines-Throws-Flesh-Police-155455985.html
 
Hackensack, NJ attack:

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Hackensack-Man-Stabs-Self-Cuts-Skin-Intestines-Throws-Flesh-Police-155455985.html
 
written after the attack in Florida where a man chewed off another man's face!

if you are not familiar with what has transpired in Florida, read the article at the link above first please.

ANOTHER ARTICLE I ADDED THIS LINK 06-05-2012:

http://gma.yahoo.com/bath-salts-dangerous-drug-inccreasing-across-us-065109986--abc-news-health.html

added 06-07-2012:

"CLOUD NINE"
http://news.yahoo.com/miami-police-warn-drug-grisly-attack-055505712.html;_ylt=AirRC1bbntvRytj2a5l30rmmWot4;_ylu=X3oDMTQ3OTExdmY1BG1pdANBcnRpY2xlIFRvcFN0b3JpZXMEcGtnA2EyZDU1MWFjLTc5ODMtMzQ4ZC1iYWVkLWI1YjNmN2IzMTEwYgRwb3MDNgRzZWMDTWVkaWFTZWN0aW9uTGlzdFRlbXAEdmVyAzg0ODZhZTcwLWIwNjUtMTFlMS1iZmY5LTAzZmNhMjc5OGVlYg--;_ylg=X3oDMTNyN3NuMHVjBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDYmRhZmQwYmUtMGZlZS0zYzJhLTkzZjEtOTViZWNkYWM1MDA2BHBzdGNhdANwb2xpdGljc3xwb2xpdGljcyUyRkRlc3RpbmF0aW9uJTI1MjAyMDEyBHB0A3N0b3J5cGFnZQ--;_ylv=3

Brandon DeLeon:

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/349416/20120606/bath-salts-homeless-man-brandon-de-leon.htm

LATEST UPDATES WITH SIMILAR ATTACKS, LEGISLATION, AND RELATED STORIES:


06-25-2012:

Senate Bill Not Banning 'Bath Salts' Has Lawmakers and Law Enforcement Flabbergasted

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&ved=0CGwQFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.medicaldaily.com%2Fnews%2F20120625%2F10446%2Fbath-salts-drugs-dea-senate.htm&ei=vUXpT6fwAuja0QGl9JGVDQ&usg=AFQjCNFSfFnULJPvhBbn8bAsfEmsyueoEw&sig2=g_owV8dsJSnTwbzehyx86Q


06-25-2012:

'Bath Salts' Drug Sparks Confusion And Trouble For Legitimate Industry

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/25/bath-salts-drug-confusion-hurts-business_n_1624516.html
06-25-2012:

Mid-Missouri Town Outlaws All Bath Salts

http://ozarksfirst.com/fulltext?nxd_id=664672

06-19-2012:

Miami-Dade commissioners give preliminary OK to banning sales of ‘bath salts’
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/19/2856060/miami-dade-commissioners-want.html#storylink=cpy
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/19/2856060/miami-dade-commissioners-want.html

06-18-2012:

Wisconsin one of 40 states banning bath salts

http://fox6now.com/2012/06/18/wisconsin-one-of-40-states-banning-bath-salts/

06-07-2012:
Legislation banning "bath salts" passes House of Representatives


Other Federal Resources:

• Drug Policy Information: http://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp
• Drug Enforcement Administration: http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/pressrel/pr030111.html
• National Institute on Drug Abuse: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/Spice.html
• American Association of Poison Control Centers: http://www.aapcc.org/dnn/default.aspx
• Congressional Research Service: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42066.pdf

www.WhiteHouse.gov/ONDCP

http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/18731257/legislation-banning-bath-salts-passes-house-of-representatives#ixzz1ysG28IiH

http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/18731257/legislation-banning-bath-salts-passes-house-of-representatives

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Federal crackdown on synthetic pot and "bath salts"

On behalf of Louis Elias Lopez, Esq. posted in Drug Charges on Saturday, August 4, 2012

Synthetic pot and "bath salts" are two designer drugs raising controversy in El Paso, Texas and nationwide. The drugs are given catchy names like Ivory Wave, Purple Wave, Vanilla Sky and Bliss and sold legally in hundreds of different chemical formulations.
Synthetic marijuana is made by spraying chemicals containing THC onto dried plants and smoked by users. It may be marketed as incense or potpourri. Bath salts come in a powdery form and mimics the effects of ecstasy, methamphetamine or cocaine. They may be marketed as plant food and are snorted, smoked, or injected.
The effects of the drugs are not fully known so they cannot be fully outlawed, but the Drug Enforcement Agency has authority to seize the property and to file drug charges. The extent of state and federal authority over the drugs is still a legal grey area.
A 30-state effort was named "Operation Log Jam" and was coordinated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. Federal drug agencies aggressively pursued a crackdown in the last weeks in July and seized the drugs at locations throughout the United States. Officials see the designer drugs as a growing problem, partly because their chemical formulation and effect is not known. Many teenagers are allegedly using the drugs without knowing the dangers because they are not fully outlawed.
The effects on users are dangerous and unpredictable, according to health officials. While the chemical compounds are understudied, the effects are intended to mimic cocaine, LSD, MDMA or methamphetamine. Users have suffered severe side-effects including coma, hallucination and even death.
Though criminal liability remains a grey area, increasing awareness of the drugs and aggressive prosecution could result in severe penalties. Individuals charged with production, distribution or possession need experienced criminal defense, especially as federal agencies begin to crackdown.
Source: The Atlanta-Journal Constitution, "Feds crack down on synthetic pot, bath salts," Andria Simmons, July 26, 2012.

Tags: bath sals, drug crimes, federal crimes, federal drug crimes, synthetic pot

http://www.lelopezlaw.com/blog/2012/08/federal-crackdown-on-synthetic-pot-and-bath-salts.shtml

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Press Releases

June 20, 2012

House Passes Bill to Ban Synthetic Drugs

Consensus legislation is likely to be signed into law.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives today passed S. 3187 (the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act), legislation that includes provisions to ban various compounds used to make synthetic drugs like K2, Spice and ‘bath salts’. The bill, a product of bipartisan and bicameral compromise, bans most substances included in synthetic drug legislation (H.R. 1254) authored by U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (PA-15). It also contains provisions identical to those in H.R. 1254 that will double the amount of time that DEA may temporarily control a new substance while working to prove that the drug in question should be banned permanently. This additional time will enhance DEA’s ability to combat new and emerging substances.
“The House passage of S. 3187 is a major accomplishment in the fight to remove dangerous synthetic drugs from our communities,” said Rep. Dent. “I am extremely pleased overwhelming bipartisan and bicameral support ensured provisions similar to those in H.R. 1254 were included in the FDA package passed by the House today.”
H.R. 1254 (the Synthetic Drug Control Act), which identifies and bans chemical compounds that mimic the affects of marijuana, cocaine, and other hard street drugs on the human brain, was introduced by Rep. Dent on March 30, 2011. The bill passed the House on December 8, 2011 with broad bipartisan support.
“Since he first introduced his bill in March 2011, Congressman Charlie Dent has worked tirelessly to raise awareness among his colleagues in Congress of the dangers of synthetic drug abuse in our communities and the urgent need to ban these harmful substances,” said Rep. Fred Upton (MI-6), Chairman of the House Energy & Commerce Committee. “The strong bipartisan support Congressman Dent's H.R. 1254 earned when it passed the House last December helped ensure a ban on certain synthetic drug components was included in the FDA reform package. Folks from the Lehigh Valley and across the nation will be safer for Charlie Dent's dedication.”
After being modified by the House, S. 3187 now returns to the Senate, where it is expected to garner near-unanimous bipartisan support. Following passage in the Senate, the bill will be sent to the President to be signed into law.

http://dent.house.gov/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=ed19f9f0-e99b-4468-97b8-b0a4f70429a0

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

State officials say ban on bath salts is working

by Andrew Stein | October 25, 2012

http://vtdigger.org/2012/10/25/state-officials-say-ban-on-bath-salts-is-working/

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Police: Bath salts ban working

Posted: Oct 25, 2012 11:46 AM EDTUpdated: Oct 28, 2012 2:00 PM EDT

http://www.wcax.com/story/19914475/police-bath-salts-under-control
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LEGAL WEED, BATH SALTS, ZOMBIES, DEATH AND SUICIDE, a GROWING EPIDEMIC

RECENT NEWS MAGAZINE FINALLY 

CATCHING UP

October 2015

Thousands Hospitalized This Year Due to Fake Weed

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/thousands-hospitalized-this-year-due-to-fake-weed/

Dirty Dishes ~ Lyrics ~ Mobiustripz

I'm looking through a sink of dirty dishes,
thinking back of all our youthful wishes,
and wondering what happened to our love we shared,
I thought together we so much more cared.

Yesterdays are hard just looking back,
thought you'd stay forever now I'm aghast,
thought forever we'd have forever one another's back,
the swollen water in my sink of dishes shadows cast.

The meals we ate I prepared for us to endure,
I cooked them with my soul and life so pure,
last supper it seems always comes to pass,
I thought we'd have a love to truly last.

We never know what is quite next,
when we will breathe in our last together breath,
I am so worn and tired I need some rest,
I still love you always, alone now I have no quest.

I'll clean these soapy dishes anew,
praying for a life coming renewed,
perhaps I am not so shrewd,
another illusion I can see right through.

Slowly Slipping Softly a Surreal Soliloquy

If the silver linings that whisp by fade to gray,
and all of this life simply slips away,
I still may never find the words to say,
how much I loved you each and every day.

Why you think the things that you do,
turns this worn man upside down aloof,
the time is ticking my days less, now a few,
to kiss your lips as sun kisses the morning dew.

Life is cryptic and also simply perspective,
I sit alone on my thoughts reflective,
tried my best to turn away the bad, keep it deflected,
things we do and the people we love affected.

New clouds will drift my way in peace,
silver linings on retinas through the eye perceived,
such a musical whimsical weave,
so hurt once again that you have left me.

I spread wings in flight to new heights I see,
the reckoning beckoning deep in my youthful soul retrieved,
the mortgage of my future, drugs and alcohol deceive,
the past has a cost to count as you leave.

Introspective looking glass self.
feelings deep I'd rather put on a shelf,
I cry out for often help,
a shepherd of poor fortune I sulk and swelt.

Lonely yet again in this human experience,
are we all so likely dense,
when life just seems to make no sense,
mortgage your own future not, what I said above hence.

SUMMERSANITY ~ LYRICS ~ MOBIUSTRIPZ ~ GONE MAD

Do not give up if times are tough,
hang in when it gets pretty rough,
times like this we need to hang togeteher and toughen up,
the Truth should resonate what together we erupt.

It's day like these,
looking for summer sanity,
flying on winds adrift upon air,
amoungest the greenest of leaves.

Sometimes if you look to far behind,
you can get caught up in a world gone amuck,
and it is way to easy to lose you summer sanity,
when your mind is elsewhere stuck.

It's day like these,
looking for summer sanity,
flying on winds adrift upon air,
amoungest the greenest of leaves.

does our own decision control our destiny,
are we really that in control you and me,
is sanity found through insanity to a degree,
enjoy this season of summer sanity.

It's day like these,
looking for summer sanity,
flying on winds adrift upon air,
amoungest the greenest of leaves.

Searching together forward with so many friends,
life has never been more blessed before,
search for triumph together forward we move,
summer shining through right to the core.

It's day like these,
looking for summer sanity,
flying on winds adrift upon air,
amoungest the greenest of leaves.

AUDIBLE SPECTRUM PRISM ~ MOBIUSTRIPZ ~ LYRICS

AUDIBLE SPECTRUM PRISM

contemplating limits of sound
the audible spectrum prism
unity resonates all around
unlike the human schism

chorus:

deep and eternal and awash upon the soul
music heals both friend and foe
matters never where you go
sound waves... be they fast or be they slow

there are no limits within the sound
another real dimension found
sometimes soft and sometimes loud
notes infusing voice sung in round

andante, pianissimo, allegro, repeat
people wanting to listen shuffle quick feet
echos through hallways magically surround
tis once again sweet music found


chorus:

deep and eternal and awash upon the soul
music heals both friend and foe
matters never where you go
sound waves... be they fast or be they slow


contemplating limits of sound
the audible spectrum prism
unity resonates all around
unlike the human schism

echo...echo...echo

echo...echo

echo...

echo