Fake pot bans catching on in Rock County, OC bans smoking in parks

[The Straight Story]

Fake pot bans catching on in Rock County

A Milton High School student was expelled this month for possessing the stuff.

Earlier this year, a school resource officer caught a group of students at Milton High School using the stuff at school.

And at least one adult in Rock County was hospitalized this year after he became ill from smoking the stuff.

The stuff—synthetic marijuana products—could get tougher to come by in Rock County if a handful of local city councils moves forward with plans to ban sale and possession of synthetic cannabinoids.

While the city of Milton and the village of Clinton approved ordinances banning synthetic marijuana earlier this year, other Rock County municipalities this month are introducing their own ordinance drafts to ban sale and possession of fake pot.

http://gazettextra.com/news/2010/dec/23/fake-pot-bans-catching-rock-county/

OC bans smoking in parks

Ocean City’s parks and recreation areas will go non-smoking and the City Council decided to create voluntary smoking areas along the beach and Boardwalk in a bid to clear the air for those who do not want to breathe in the smoke. (my remarks: no mention made of fumes from exhaust pipes, which aren't all too healthy - try sitting in a garage for 2 hours breathing the fumes in versus second hand smoke for 2 hours....)

The council held a hearing Monday to gather input from the public on whether to make the beach, Boardwalk and parks nonsmoking areas. After hearing impassioned comments from both sides of the issue, the council decided to take a moderate stance by asking the smoking public to segregate themselves voluntarily so everybody can continue to enjoy the beach and Boardwalk.

But the council did decide to ban smoking in parks, playgrounds and other recreational areas like the tennis center because children are the main users.

“I think we could start to provide education and expand the opportunities for people to segregate themselves,” Councilman Joe Hall said.

http://www.oceancitytoday.net/news/2010-12-24/Front_Page/OC_bans_smoking_in_parks.html