OGDEN -- A half-dozen worried residents pleaded with the city council Tuesday night to move ahead with plans to possibly vote on an ordinance next week to effectively ban the sale of "spice," a substance that is legal to buy and produces a marijuana-like high if smoked.
Erik Hoel presented the council with a petition bearing the signatures of 125 residents who live near the Corner Market, an establishment at Ninth Street and Polk Avenue adjacent to Horace Mann Elementary School. The store advertises that it sells "Black Mamba, The Consumer's Choice in Spice."
Hoel's petition calls for the city council to adopt an ordinance that would prohibit the sale and distribution of spice from any retail property in Ogden that borders a school, church or residential property.
Hoel said the ordinance is needed because there has been an increase in vandalism and theft in his neighborhood, which he believes can be attributed to spice sales at the Corner Market.
Employees with the Corner Market could not be reached for comment late Tuesday night. However, a man who identified himself as David and said he was the store manager told a reporter for the Standard- Examiner last month the market sells spice as incense.
But Hoel doubted David's claim that spice is used as an incense and described it as a substitute for illegal marijuana.
"It's not intended to make a house smell good," he said. "It's intended to circumvent the law and create a legal high."
Hoel also said spice poses a health threat to users and can produce rapid heart rates, poor depth perception and even seizures.
Rex Kirk Butterfield, who also lives near the Corner Market, asked the council to move as quickly as possible to ban spice sales to protect the health and safety of residents.
In addition, Dan Devel, another resident, urged the council to ensure that the ordinance doesn't have any loopholes that would allow spice sellers to circumvent the law.
"Get the job done so you don't have to revisit it in the future," he said.
Councilman Doug Stephens said he supports the adoption of a tough ordinance preventing spice sales because it will benefit residents.
"We need to stand up for what is right," he said. "Spice is not good for Ogden."
Mayor Matthew Godfrey, who has said he will present the council with a draft ordinance to prohibit spice sales, thanked those who spoke out at Tuesday night's meeting.
"I don't think we would have known about the issue had you not alerted us to what is going on," he said.
Weber-Metro Narcotics Strike Force Sgt. Troy Burnett praised Godfrey, the council and residents for taking a tough and quick stance against spice sales.
"I think it's awesome," he said late Tuesday night. "I applaud the city council, mayor and anyone who takes a proactive approach."
The city council is slated to consider an ordinance prohibiting spice sales when it meets Tuesday.
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