Attorney General Pam Bondi equated retailers selling now-outlawed synthetic drugs as no better than a street-level drug dealer.
Law enforcement officers in Florida have started visiting convenience stores and retailers demanding that a new list of synthetic drugs, branded under names such as Cotton Candy, Baked Hulk and Atomic, be immediately removed or face prosecution.
Bondi issued an executive ruling on Tuesday that outlawed 22 additional synthetic drugs that are smokable drugs commonly referred to as spice, K2 or bath salts.
Bondi said the items are marketed in festive, brightly-colored packaging, even with the required disclaimers stating not for human consumption, to kids as young as 12.
This is disgusting, Bondi said. This isnt directed at a high school child, this is directed at a middle school. 'Scooby Doo.' 'Cotton Candy.'Its all about making money for these drug dealers."
She also warned retailers that the power of the state will be used on those who try to hide the items from law enforcement.
Were coming after you and we will put you out of business, Bondi said. We will do everything in our power to put you out of business because you are no different than a common street-level drug dealer.
She said the goal is to make life "so hard" for the distributors of these synthetic drugs that they have no choice but to "go elsewhere."
The statewide order and sweep continues Bondis passionate stance against synthetic drugs, working with legislators in the 2011 and 2012 sessions to ban a total of 18 synthetically-made substances.
The latest list includes mostly chemically modified versions of the other already banned substances. Some even fail to include a warning/disclaimer.
Law enforcement attending a media conference with Bondi on Tuesday at the Capitol called the items -- often marketed as legal pot and viewed as being a safe alternative -- deadly.
Bondi said she will work with legislators in the 2013 session to further ban these drugs.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
