Police in Santa Cruz County are worried about a new series of substances that are leaving people stoned, hallucinating and acting recklessly. The problem, they say, is that two of the substances are also perfectly legal. They are sold in shops throughout the county, and police can do nothing about them.
The first of these drugs is Salvia divinorum, a hallucinogenic plant grown in Oaxaca, Mexico. When police first started encountering the drug, they thought they were dealing with heroin. The drug, they say, decreases inhibitions, inhibits balance and at worst can cause people to enter a catatonic state. Many people, including some of the shop owners that sell it, say that the high is unpleasant, but some fans of the drugs say that it induces an intense spiritual high.
The second problematic drug making headway in Santa Cruz is synthetic cannabis, or “Spice.” This drug is not regulated either, and is often sold as incense. The advantage, many users say, is that it does not show up in testing, making it the ideal high for people who have to go through drug testing for work. The effects of the drug are otherwise similar to marijuana.
Because there are no laws in place regulating these two substances, police do not look for them when conducting drug raids. Even if they do find them, they are not allowed to seize them. Expressing his frustration at the situation, Watsonville Police Chief Manny Solano said, “Until this gets put on some controlled substance list, we can’t do anything.” Read more at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
