Pubdate: Fri, 22 Jun 2012
Source: Citizen, The (Auburn, NY)
Copyright: 2012 Auburn Publishers Inc.
Contact: http://www.auburnpub.com/services/send_a_letter
Website: http://www.auburnpub.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1491

CRACK DOWN ON DRUGS BY ALL MEANS

We've heard stories lately about the bizarre and dangerous behavior of
people believed to be under the influence of so-called bath salts, but
we were surprised to hear Auburn Police Chief Gary Giannotta say that
designer drugs are "an epidemic" in Auburn.

Part of the problem is that the law simply hasn't caught up with this
need breed of drug. Places that sell bath salts and pseudo marijuana
argue that the products are clearly labeled "not for human
consumption" and that they aren't responsible for what people do with
the stuff after they leave the store. And while it's true that items
common to grocery stores are sometimes used by people trying to high,
head shops are in a different category altogether because they
specifically cater to drug addicts and criminals.

Let's be honest. Glass pipes in funky shapes and colors are for
smoking marijuana, not tobacco. And cheap digital scales aren't
designed for professionals who need precise measuring instruments,
they're to help drug dealers break big piles of cocaine into smaller
ones.

But these new products aren't just drug paraphernalia, they are the
drugs. The bath salts are being snorted and the marijuana-like
"incense" is being smoked.

Giannotta told the city council Thursday that he's been working with
the county sheriff's office and the district attorney's office to come
up with a local law prohibiting the drugs.

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman recently sued some head shops
that do business in New York, and judges in several communities,
including Syracuse and Rochester, have issued temporary restraining
orders to stop some shops from selling the questionable products.

We would prefer to believe that the bath salts "epidemic" is being
exaggerated, even if by the most well-meaning people. We have no doubt
that the abuse of alcohol, for example, leads to more injuries,
arrests and broken homes than bath salts ever will. But if bath salts
really are as dangerous as they seem to be, perhaps Schneiderman's
office can lend a hand to Auburn and Cayuga County
authorities.

Since bath salts aren't really for baths and that fake marijuana isn't
really incense, anything and everything that can be done to get rid of
them is fine by us.
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