RSS Feed

Email Alerts

Twitter

Facebook

New bill outlaws all synthetic pot, affects proposed BOE recommendation

Posted by

Katie Cofer

in Education Archives, Top Stories & Breaking News

Tuesday, March 27. 2012

Comments (26)

Gov. Nathan Deal's Tuesday signing of legislation outlawing all forms of synthetic marijuana in the state of Georgia affected a Barrow County Board of Education meeting also held March 27.

The issue of synthetic pot had been brought up in recent school leader meetings in Barrow County and was discussed at the Tuesday meeting. The proposed recommendation was for the school board to allow policy changes to the student code of conduct related to drugs that were legal prior to Tuesday afternoon. Now that all versions of synthetic marijuana are illegal in the state, the proposed recommendation to the school system's code of conduct is moot.

“These synthetic substances pose an enormous risk to our public safety," said Deal in a statement. “As the usage has dramatically increased, instances of violence, bodily harm and even death have risen with it. I applaud the GBI and the General Assembly for their fast work on this legislation, which addresses a pressing need.”

Senate Bill 370 was named Chase’s Law in memory of Chase Corbitt Burnett, a 16-year-old honor student and soccer player found dead in a hot tub at his parents' Fayette County home after smoking the substance. Burnett’s family joined GBI Director Vernon Keenan, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, House Speaker David Ralston and others at the bill signing.

Synthetic cannabinoids contain marijuana-like chemical compounds combined with different forms of dried vegetation. These products are sold in gas stations throughout the state and are purchased and smoked by individuals in search of a legal high, according to the governor's press release, which also sources the American Association of Poison Control Centers stating there were 6,959 calls nationwide related to adverse effects associated with synthetic cannabinoid compounds in 2011.

"This is nearly 2.4 times the amount of calls in 2010," the press release states. "Doctors have determined that synthetic marijuana can cause psychosis and increase the tendency of violent behavior. In September of last year, a Bulloch County woman was hospitalized after her boyfriend brutally assaulted her while under the influence of synthetic marijuana. Just this month, a 17-year-old in Washington state who was high on synthetic marijuana fatally stabbed a sleeping schoolmate because he felt 'an urge to hurt someone."

Keenan and other law enforcement officials from across the state requested the immediate signing of SB 370 in order to begin the crackdown on the substances.

Trackbacks

Trackback specific URI for this entry

No Trackbacks

Comments

Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)

#1 Pot Head on 03/27/12 at 08:33 PM [Reply]

So what are they going to outlaw next? Glue and paint thinner?

#1.1 Anonymous on 03/27/12 at 08:36 PM [Reply]

They will probably go after rabbit tobacco next.

#1.2 Are you kidding on 03/27/12 at 09:51 PM [Reply]

If it starts having the same effects and outcome as this stuff then they need too. But who am to tell that to someone who obviously could care less what they put in their body. Go smoke another one, you have two more brain cells to kill.

#2 sammy garcia on 03/27/12 at 10:25 PM [Reply]

govt is d damn problem...
why do we have spice in d first place????
bcoz mrijuana is still illegal in d ountry
its been 40 yrs since president nixon declare drug war in this country.
so many innocent people r behind bars.
ga is #1 when it comes to most corrupt state.
ga recieve grade f in ehic violtion.

#2.1 What?? on 03/28/12 at 05:50 PM [Reply]

Well, guess you and Georgia have something in common then, only your "f" is in spelling and grammar. WOW!!!

#2.2 Anonymous on 03/28/12 at 08:17 PM [Reply]

What the F? That made no sense

#3 Odins Eye on 03/28/12 at 07:49 AM [Reply]

Don't fall for the "its for the safety of the public" baloney.
Its all about government control over the people.
We know what is best for you.
You would die with-out government intervention and intrusion.

Bottom line is; as a human you own your body.
You have a fundamental right to do with it what you choose.

I have no problem with folks being educated about the dangers of this garbage called spice.

But the government picks and chooses which drugs are approved and which are restricted.
Alcohol, tobacco, and pharmas kill more women and children than any spice ever did.
Spice is just the latest scare tactic from big government

Its your body, you own it, do with it what you please.

live free.

-Othinn

#3.1 Are you Kidding on 03/28/12 at 07:42 PM [Reply]

Your very correct. It is YOUR body. Go out and put anything you want in it. Have fun. But when you do get high on whatever it is you choose do it in YOUR OWN HOUSE. Don't come out here and place everyone else in harms way by getting behind the wheel and hitting and killing the ones who choose NOT to put illegal substances in their bodies. Thats the issue here. People think that can do whatever they want, whenever they want without any regard for anyone else. This is why the government gets involved. We have to babysit the ones who can't, or won't grow up. The ones who could care less about everyone else.

#4 d.m. on 03/28/12 at 09:05 AM [Reply]

It seems to me that the only people that are upset here are the ones that smoke this stuff. If you watched from the sidelines and saw the adverse effects that this stuff has you'd be scared outta your whits!

#4.1 Anonymous on 03/28/12 at 10:33 AM [Reply]

Why is it that mini-minds always accuse others of wrongdoing when the stark reality is that there is a difference of opinion? IOW, not all people who oppose the so-called "war on drugs" are dope fiends.

#5 Exactly... on 03/28/12 at 12:21 PM [Reply]

I agree 100% with Odins Eye. How can the government tell us what we can and cannot do to our bodies? They are OUR bodies. I simply do not care what my neighbor is doing to himself. As long as they are not harming anyone else, why should others have a say?
I also agree that the goverment picks and chooses what to legalize. Why in the world are cigarettes legal???? To me, they are worse than ANY drug. Alcohol kills, too. Why is that legal?
If pot, which is a plant made by God, was legal then we most likely wouldn't even be dealing with this "spice" issue.
And no, I am not a druggie nor am I dumb enough to try this man-made crap...

#5.1 Propose This (the it's our body crowd) on 03/28/12 at 01:36 PM [Reply]

I say as long as you do NOT leave YOUR property while you are under the influence, and cause No Reason for anyone to call the Law for any other reason (noise, damage, etc) *AND* 2. You agree to take full responsibilty for anything that happens to you from using whatever substance (personally, financailly) including You pay for EMS if they ever needed to be called, AND you are covered by your own private insurance or self pay for any medical issue that results, IN OTHER WORDS: You dont bother anyone else and WE (the rest of us) never have to pay a dime for any decision you make in any way, THEN I say let you smoke or take anything you want.

#5.1.1 Odins Eye on 03/28/12 at 01:57 PM [Reply]

That is the whole premise behind liberty: Personal Responsibility,
Personal Accountability,
Personal Discipline.

Live Free...before its illegal.

-Hropt

#5.1.1.1 Yea, well it going the other way now... on 03/28/12 at 04:20 PM [Reply]

It will be illegal soon under the current administration, the new "breathing the air" tax is being proposed as we speak.

#6 Propose this response on 03/28/12 at 03:19 PM [Reply]

In that thinking, there should not be alcohol served in bars or restaurants. People should have to stay on their property to imbibe - and let's not even try to estimate how many times law enforcement had to be called due to alcohol. How about the lung cancer and the deaths that cigarettes cause? I have had cancer twice directly related to cigarette smoke and yet I STILL have to walk through some one's smoke cloud while they are smoking their cigarettes outside a building. IN OTHER WORDS: I am bothered all of the time by other people's liberties. How should this be any different??

#6.1 Odins Eye on 03/28/12 at 03:41 PM [Reply]

[[IN OTHER WORDS: I am bothered all of the time by other people's liberties. How should this be any different??]]

Suggestion: Stay at home until you can learn to become tolerant of others.

#6.1.1 Same difference on 03/28/12 at 11:44 PM [Reply]

Odins Eye,
Do you stay home all the time?
If not, let me know the next time you are out so can I spit my tobacco juice on you. Same as someone exhaling their smoke for me to breath.
I'm sure you won't mind, because you promote being tolerant of others.
I don't chew,but I'm sure I could get up a luggy.

#7 Roblot on 03/28/12 at 08:30 PM [Reply]

Now they need to outlaw the glass pipes in the Sunoco store with the sign saying "for tobacco use only". What a joke. They may as well be selling the dope that these pipes are actually used for.

#7.1 Sheesh on 04/02/12 at 11:27 AM [Reply]

Yeah! And what about those free matches and cheap lighters for sale in every gas station? Those mechanics and store owners should be locked up too!

And don't even get me started on all those sugar dealers making a fortune by turning us all into diabetics!

More laws! More Laws! More Laws!

#8 DD on 03/31/12 at 07:04 PM [Reply]

I am sure they would outlaw the glass pipes if they could and they should. They are not for tobacco use and everyone knows it. Just like Spice states " Not for Human Consumption" but humans are the only ones consuming it and they don't burn it like incense.
This product is man made - synthetic marijuana - more lethal than marijuana!
Yes, alcohol and tobacco products kill.
Does that mean we need to legalize other products may or may not kill??
Stores were selling these products to pre-teens and teens under the age of 18. Even those over 18 were at risk.
It was big business and they did not care if these kids got addicted or died!
Synthetic marijuana is lethal. One batch may be more lethal than the next.
Do your research. Government has to protect.

#8.1 Cheech on 03/31/12 at 09:56 PM [Reply]

Remember when Jerry Maynard opened Winders first head shop back in the mid 70's? It was where Wendys is now. I think that was Jerrys first business venture.

#8.1.1 Susan on 04/01/12 at 12:43 AM [Reply]

I had forgot about that place. Thanks for the memories. I bought my first bong and hash pipe from Jerry Maynard. I just turned 18 and he actually checked my ID. Does anyone remember the name of the place?

#8.1.1.1 Anonymous on 04/01/12 at 12:51 AM [Reply]

Up In Smoke?

#9 Agent on 04/01/12 at 11:43 PM [Reply]

Are you people serious? Jerry Maynard actually owned a drug paraphernalia shop in Winder? I use to be a real estate agent for Jerry. Things are starting to come together now. LOL

#10 When will it be enough ?? no common sense... on 04/02/12 at 12:33 AM [Reply]

We Cannot LEGISLATE EVERY LITTLE THING, I saw sometimes you just go with Natural Selection, some people just mess up and die from it. We try to write a bill or change a law for every little thing, sometimes we just need decient parenting...
I wore a seatbelt BEFORE there was a law for the Govt to tell me to do what I already was doing, I believe in seat belts but strongly oppose a law telling me to do so, I can CHOOSE to put my life at risk and choose to be safe, I dont need EXTRA Parents In Washington or Downtown Atlanta now.

#11 Sheesh on 04/09/12 at 03:19 PM [Reply]

Nothing like a new illegal substance to jack up the budgets for the war on drug armies.

Add Comment

Name
Email
Homepage
In reply to
Comment: E-Mail addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for E-Mail notifications.
To leave a comment you must approve it via e-mail, which will be sent to your address after submission.

To prevent automated Bots from commentspamming, please enter the string you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.

Enter the string from the spam-prevention image above:
Phone*

What is four plus six?
: Remember Information? Subscribe to this entry

This Week's Poll

Community

Barrow Community

New bill outlaws all synthetic pot, affects proposed BOE recommendation

Barrow Journal

New bill outlaws all synthetic pot, affects proposed BOE recommendation

Recent Stories

Recent Comments

This Week's Poll

Sister Sites

Archives

Community

Keyword Tags