The new Alaskan law that bans spice and other synthetic drugs has gone into effect as of today.
The City of Soldotna had previously put together a synthetic drug ban ordinance but delayed it and then turned it down when Gov. Sean Parnell signed the statewide ban earlier this year.
Soldotna Police Chief Peter Mlynarik said a statewide law will be much more effective than an individual city ordinance…
Chief Mlynarik: “Once the state does it, it makes it more consistent, so it’s not just when you cross into city limits it’s against the law, but it becomes statewide, so that’s a benefit for us. We usually adopt and enforce state laws, so that’ll be one of them we’ll do also.”
Law enforcement agencies are still discussing the best ways to enforce the law, as right now the ban is focused on product labels rather than the ever changing ingredients in the drugs.
We spoke to Alaska State Troopers’ Beth Ipsen about penalties for possessing spice.
Ipsen: “The Trooper may seize them and may issue a summons which requires mandatory court appearance and a person may face a fine up to $500.00 dollars. Now whether or not that $500.00 is what kind of fine they get is dependent on the courts.”
She said that hopefully businesses which sell and people who have already purchased these sorts of products will dispose of them on their own as they are now illegal throughout the state.