Cedar Park tables spice ban

KXAN (AUSTIN) - The Cedar Park city council put off a decision Thursday night on whether to ban a popular synthetic drug known as K2 or Spice.  It's designed to mimic marijuana, and it is sold legally in head shops and some convenience stores.

In an in-depth report we did May 2010, doctors said they were seeing an increasing number of people show up in emergency rooms with bad side effects from using spice -- severe hallucinations, anxiety and, in some cases, seizures.

Cedar Park is the first Central Texas city to consider banning the substances containing synthetic cannabinoids.  Several states enacted laws against the sale, use and possession of spice.  Mississippi banned it in early September.  Cities and counties all over the country have banned it also.

The Cedar Park city council tabled the spice ban vote after hearing from people who urged them to get more information.  Two people told the council the ordinance should not target salvia divinorium -- a plant that does not contain the synthetic marijuana compounds.

"I think the resident brought up a good concern," said Cedar Park Communications manager Melanie Carr.  "We definitely want to make sure our ordinance is factually correct, and if there are things included in it that should not be, we obviously want to address that before it gets passed."

Texas State Senator Florence Shapiro of Plano plans to introduce legislation in the next session banning spice.  The bill will likely target the synthetic compounds used to make the substance. 

The Cedar Park city council will consider the spice ban again at their next meeting September 23rd or in early October.