AZ lawmakers target Spice

The synthetic marijuana known as "Spice" maybe seeing it's last days Arizona. State lawmakers have started to take action against the synthetic drug considering it's dangerous record.

Two bills were introduced on Monday by a Senate committee targeting synthetic marijuana. The bills work in effort to make it harder for people to obtain and use Spice.

The Associated Press reports, One bill would prohibit businesses with liquor licenses from selling synthetic marijuana. This would remove the known dangerous substance from local liquor and convince stores limiting the ease of purchasing it. However this will have little effect on tobacco and smoke shops.

The other bill will allow the state to expand the definition of dangerous drugs to include synthetic marijuana. The bill would also increase the minimum fine of selling or manufacturing dangerous drugs from $1,000 to $25,000. State officials say the current law has very little impact on the distribution of Spice, because the small fine is worth the business, and minor chemical changes can be made to stay ahead of the law.

But some serious medical cannabis advocates have expressed concern about the bill attacking the rights of patients in the state. The states medical marijuana law has been attacked and fought from all angles since it was passed in 2010. Currently the law has had constant obstacles placed in the way of several serious businesses trying to get patients their medication.

The new concern is that state prosecutors along with Attorney General Tom Horne, can use this the bill to have medical marijuana classified as a dangerous drug. With the aid of the federal government, the voter approved law could possibly be under attack by a reclassification.

Synthetic marijuana alone still continues to claim lives, which brings to question current laws against real cannabis and it's safe history.

Arizona is one of 41 states that have banned Spice.

David Joseph