Dallas Bans K2 and Smoking Paraphernalia

Dallas is the latest North Texas city to ban synthetic marijuana and salvia divinorum -- and the city is also going further.

Starting Sunday, the use, possession and sale of the substances will bring a citation and a fine of up to $2,000.

Dallas Police Chief David Brown, Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway and Mayor Tom Leppert called for the ban, saying K2 a dangerous substance that is spreading among youth and adults in Dallas.

"More and more kids are using these products because they create the same effects as illegal drugs but currently are legal and easy to get," Leppert said in a July 29 press release. "The fake marijuana and salvia are just as dangerous as the real thing, and we need to move now to stop them from being sold and used."

The ordinance also seemingly bans tobacco papers, pipes, bongs and every other item a person could possibly use to smoke with. Dallas is banning the use and possession of "paraphernalia used or intended to be used to introduce synthetic cannabinoids or salvia divinorum into the human body."

Synthetic marijuana, or "spice," is a mixture of herbs and synthetic cannabinoids sold as incense. Salvia divinorum is a plant native to Mexico.

Spice is sold at gas stations and smoke shops under the name "K2," "Spice Gold," "Spice Yucatan Fire" and other names. Salvia divinorum, known as Diviner's Sage, is sold under the names "Sally D" or "Magic Mint." The substances can also be bought on the Internet.

When inhaled, both can produce a high similar to marijuana and can currently be purchased by anyone.

Synthetic cannabinoids, which were developed by some university medical researchers, mimics the effects of the ingredient in marijuana that causes a high but were not designed for human consumption, the Washington Post reported.

Councilwoman Angela Hunt was the only council member to vote against the ban, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Also on Wednesday, Van Alstyne and Highland Village passed similar K2/Salvia bans.

Three Denton teenagers called 911 seeking medical help for smoking K2 within 10 days in May.

"K2 Incense is just that: Incense, and is not sold or intended for human consumption," K2-Incense.com, a company that sells the product, said in an e-mail in May.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is testing K2, which is manufactured in the United States and aboard, the Washington Post reported. But testing is difficult because it is made of several substances, the newspaper reported.

In June, Mansfield became the first North Texas to city to ban the sale of K2 to anyone younger than 21. Cleburne also limits sales. Frisco, Plano, Allen, McKinney, Duncanville and Watauga have bans on sale of the incense.

State Sen. Florence Shapiro and State Rep. Ken Paxton said they'll push for a statewide ban in coming months.