TREMONTON -- The city council has unanimously approved a letter of support to be sent to the Box Elder County Commission regarding the restriction of the sale and use of spice.
In addition, Councilwoman Diana Doutre said she has been approached by members of the Garland City Council asking that Tremonton and Garland work together to create an ordinance for their communities similar to the ordinance recently adopted in Ogden.
"The biggest problem with this new drug is there is no test right now in the state crime lab to test for these chemicals," said Tremonton Police Chief Dave Nance.
"If we find someone using this chemical, we are charging them with psychotoxic chemical abuse similar to sniffing gas."
He questioned the value of having an ordinance against the use of spice when the state crime lab cannot test for the chemicals, stating it is too hard to get a conviction without clear data showing suspects were using the chemical.
Nance said if the Utah Legislature passes a law making the use of spice illegal statewide, he believes the state crime lab would be updated to be able to detect the chemicals used for spice as part of that legislation.
"A lot of the ordinances that are being written right now are stop-gap ordinances until the state does something," Nance said.
He said he would support an ordinance similar to the one adopted by Utah County, prohibiting the sale of spice rather than the use of spice.
"The Utah County ordinance prohibits the sale of spice anywhere within the county, which would be easier to enforce," Nance said.
Earlier this summer, Tremonton police responded to several overdoses in the town believed to be the result of the use of spice.
"Their friends actually call us. They get anxiety attacks, they get aggressive, and you can't calm them down," Nance said.
Councilman Jeff Reese said, "I think we have to do something. The kids are smart, they know how to use it."
The council voted to send a letter of support to the county and will consider a city ordinance later.
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