In a 15-0 vote this week the Keene city council has decided to put more money in the hands of local illegal drug dealers by banning synthetic drugs. The unintelligible seven-page ordinance proscribes fines in the hundreds of dollars and will result in the products being removed from local store shelves. While the concerned moms and dads pat themselves on the back for successfully achieving the illusion the drugs are no longer available, local drug dealers now have another product they can add to their repertoire.
Oh, and of course they can now raise the price so customers who are hooked will be more likely to steal and rob people to get money to continue their habit.
That’s right Keene councilors, you can make prohibition work this time!
If that weren’t what absurd enough, apparently city councilor/state rep Kris Roberts has proposed legislation to “remove the ability of anyone to challenge the city’s ordinance based on its lack of authority to enact it”. Hopefully that will go down in flames, but wow – talk about a power grab.
Here’s an article about the vote from the Keene Sentinel’s Kyle Jarvis:
It’s now illegal to sell, possess or consume so-called synthetic marijuana in Keene.
The Keene City Council unanimously approved an ordinance Thursday night banning the substances, which pose serious health and safety risks, several community health leaders and residents said previously.
The substances are marketed as incense and come in brightly colored packages with catchy names that invoke the most-potent strains of real marijuana, such as ““Purple Sticky,” “Wild Berry,” “K2,” and “Black Mamba.”
In June, the council voted unanimously to support a ban on the sale of synthetic substances in Keene after hearing testimony from residents and community leaders who said the products are dangerous due to health and safety risks.
The council directed City Attorney Thomas P. Mullins to work on drafting an ordinance permanently banning the sale of the synthetics in Keene, and that ordinance was presented to the municipal services, facilities and infrastructure committee last week.
Thursday night’s vote was the final approval, meaning the ordinance is now law.
Phat Stuff on Main Street was previously targeted by anti-synthetic drug activists, who claimed the store’s owner was knowingly selling the substances to be used improperly.
Last month, an employee of Phat Stuff said the store no longer carries the products.
“I bet this will help in making statewide law,” Councilor James P. Duffy said, adding that evidence suggests similar ordinances passed in other states have successfully made it more difficult to obtain the substances. “It’s poison, actually, and can alter their life forever, just by smoking it once.”
Mullins told the council previously that it’s unclear whether the ordinance will hold up in court if challenged, since only the federal government and the state Legislature have the authority to regulate drugs.
Councilor Kris E. Roberts, who’s also a state representative, told his fellow councilors Thursday he’s submitted a bill that would remove the ability of anyone to challenge the city’s ordinance based on its lack of authority to enact it.
Mayor Kendall W. Lane thanked local residents who brought the issue to the council’s attention earlier this year, including Kimberly Diemond of Marlborough, who spearheaded the effort, and Deb Chambers of Keene, whose daughter has struggled with the addiction to synthetic drugs. Both were present Thursday night.
“Quite frankly when this started, I had no idea what this was,” Lane said.
Kyle Jarvis can be reached at kjarvis@keenesentinel.com or 283-0755. Follow him on Twitter @KJarvisKS.
