Law enforcement works to get synthetic drugs off the street
31.12.69
EVANSDALE, Iowa --- Sometimes the names sound harmless: Cloud Nine, Dank Super Human Incense Blend and High Mountain Moon.
Sometimes they don't: Pure Evil 100 % or Caution Super Strong Incense.
To police and health officials, they're dangerous and possibly illegal products being sold at area businesses and on the Internet.
Authorities say synthetic marijuana and synthetic methamphetamine --- often marketed as incense, potpourri or even foot powder --- are serious problems in the Cedar Valley and statewide. No local deaths have been attributed to the use of the copycat drugs, officials said, but many users have been admitted into hospitals.
The Partnership at Drug-Free Iowa.org will host a press conference in Waterloo Tuesday, along with four others in the state, to announce a new public education campaign to fight synthetic drugs.
Source: Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
City votes on synthetic marijuana issue
31.12.69
SWEETWATER, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida city is in the process of weeding out synthetic marijuana from local stores.
The City of Sweetwater voted to consider an ordinance to ban a blend of chemicals sold in city stores that have sent dozens of people from around the country to the hospital.
Synthetic pot, known as "K2" or "Herbal Incense," and sold under the names like "Armageddon" and "Spice" has a lot of fans but also a lot of critics. "It's pretty popular I would say, especially among teenagers, you know, you just walk into a head shop, a tobacco store. You get it for the same street price as marijuana," said "Michael". "Some people have like adverse reactions to it. Like they get headaches from it, or they'll get sick."
Source: 7Online WSVN-TV
France's Cognac country: So much to drink in
31.12.69
Here’s one thing I learned during a nine-day drink-and-dine tour of Cognac and several other towns in western France: Never, ever text a photo of your sumptuous lunch to your wife when she’s alone back home, working and taking care of your 8-year-old son.
To be fair to myself, it was work that took me to France last September: I was tinkering with a new book idea. Plus, my wife had recently cashed in more than a decade’s worth of communal credit card and frequent flier points to take her mom on a ritzy two-week tour of Italy. I figured I had some psychic currency to burn.
The town of Cognac is curiously overlooked by many tourists. Too bad, because it’s France at its most timeless. Pastoral and dotted with stone farmhouses, cognac country is renowned for snails, butter and fleur de sel (natural sea salt).
Source: Charlotte Observer
