Synthetic Marijuana Ordered Off Shelves

A signed message from Sheriff Bob Gualtieri will be hand-delivered to several Pinellas County convenience store owners Monday:

Get Spice and K-2 synthetic marijuana products off store shelves or face tough penalties under a new Florida law.

The  law bans the sale and possession chemicals found in some brand-name products called Spice, K-2,  Incense and Loose Leaf Incense. The law is detailed in Florida State Statute 893.03 and 893.13, making it a third degree felony to
possess or sell these chemicals, which include a compound called JWH-018..

"The notices will go out starting Monday to educate our retailers about the new law, to encourage compliance and to answer any questions," Gualtieri said in a written statement released to the press today.

Deputies will conduct subsequent checks for these products on store shelves to make sure retailers on in compliance.

Narcotics Sgt. Dan Zsido will brief media Monday at 10 a.m., at the Sheriff's Office in Largo, on the risks of synthetic marijuana. They include causing prolonged pyschosis in individuals.

Reporters will be invited to follow deputies making rounds to retailers known to stock these products.