File PhotoSAGINAW, MI (WNEM) -
Police are beginning to sweep store shelves in search for K-2, spice, or so-called synthetic marijuana.
Synthetic drugs are now illegal to buy, sell or use in Michigan. Legislation signed by Gov. Rick Snyder banned the drugs starting on July 1 and have given permission to Michigan State Police and other law agencies to remove the drugs if a store is selling them.
Saginaw County Sheriff Bill Federspiel said his deputies have been briefed about K-2 and spice and will begin sweeping stores in the county looking for stores breaking the law.
"I think everybody knows that we are pretty tough and we don't like to sit back and let it come to us, we like to take it right to the bad guys, so if we know they're doing these things, and we have a new law that we can use to our advantage, we're going to do it," Federspiel said.
We stopped at a store in Saginaw that sold K-2 as late as Saturday. The owner of Dom's Food Market said the punishment is enough to not want to take chances.
"We'll lose my whole business if anything goes wrong," Harry Singh said.
If a business or person is caught manufacturing or selling the drug, it means a seven-year felony. If a person is in possession, he or she could spend two years in jail.
Synthetic marijuana is made up of dried herbs and spices sprayed with chemicals. The drug has been blamed for health problems and violent behavior.
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