Dwane E. Ragan
Director
Telephone
(912) 652-3900
The Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT) wants to alert you to a dangerous and
worrisome situation involving products your business is selling, or might be contemplating selling. We
urge you – in the strongest possible terms – to voluntarily discontinue your trade in these items or to
avoid undertaking it altogether if you are thinking about it.
In the past year and a half in our community there have been at least six reported cases of persons
smoking “Herbal Incense” and having serious physiological issues. Some of these issues have included
strokes, hallucinations, chest pains, and psychotic episodes. The use of “Herbal Incense” is not just being
seen in Chatham, Effingham, and Bryan counties, it is being abused nationwide. “Herbal Incense”, which
is just what it is marketed as, is actually synthetic marijuana. The “Herbal Incense” packets contain dried,
pulverized plant material that has been sprayed with chemicals to make it smell like strawberries,
peaches, potpourri, etc. The plant materials are also sprayed with a chemical compound that was
produced to replace THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. When the packet contents are smoked,
people get a “high” feeling similar to marijuana. The companies that produce these “Herbal Incense”
packets lessen their liability and attempt to skirt the law by labeling the packets “NOT FOR HUMAN
CONSUMPTION.”
This same scenario is being played out by companies who are selling “bath salts,” which are chemical
compounds that have never been found to have medicinal value. The compounds are now being marketed
because oral or nasal ingestion may result in a “high” feeling supposedly similar to cocaine. Companies
are producing large amounts of these chemicals and selling them as “bath salts” or “lawn fertilizer.”
Some common names include: Ivory Wave, Vanilla Sky, Pure Vanilla and Euphoric Bliss. There have
been several documented overdoses across the country.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the State of Georgia have designated these synthetic
marijuana chemical compounds and chemical compounds in certain “bath salts” a schedule I drug. This
means that if you do not possess a DEA control number, similar to what pharmacies have, you cannot
possess OR sell these substances. In Georgia, it is a Felony to possess or sell synthetic marijuana, any
plant material sprayed with a synthetic marijuana compound, and/or certain chemicals found in “bath
salts.” Merchants and/or their employees who continue to sell the above listed items after the issuance of
this letter may be charged with the sale of a controlled substance, which carries a minimum five year
felony sentence and up to 30 years, for a first offense, if the item sold is found to contain a schedule I,
controlled substance. Additionally, you face possible fines, affect your immigration status (if you are
not an American citizen), possibly lose your business license, have a criminal record, and are
subject to civil lawsuit. Note - In recent testing, various synthetic marijuana packages and bath salts
have been found to contain at least one controlled substance, despite packaging that states otherwise.
CNT prefers to educate the community on the dangers of synthetic marijuana and bath salts rather than
immediately pursue criminal charges, and this effort starts with you. We have found that these products
are typically purchased from businesses that otherwise engage in lawful enterprise. None of these
substances in the packets have been approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration or any other
Federal Agency. CNT is asking you to voluntarily remove all K2, Spice, Herbal Incense packets or any
form of synthetic marijuana along with any item being marketed as “bath salts”. This request is being
sought for the safety of our community and to prevent legal issues that may be presented to you in the
future.
Should you have any questions, please contact CNT Agents Harley or Wood at 912-652-3900 Monday
through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm.
Thank you for your assistance and cooperation in this matter. Attached you will find State Bill 93 that
was passed earlier this year.