BY LEON B. CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer
Last summer, Antoinette Glover walked into a convenience store in her Wimauma community with her grandson. They hadn’t gotten through the door well when she noticed her grandson standing in front of a big advertisement.
“I got closer to see what had captured his attention, and was shocked to find out he was starring at synthetic marijuana products and the huge posters advertising the products.”
Ms. Glover said it was easy to see how the items got her grandson’s attention, because they were packaged in cartoon wrappers with bright colors, and the products had names like “Spice.”
“I approached the owner and asked him about the way he was displaying the products, and that I was offended. He just flipped me off.
“He intentionally had the products on a huge counter in front of the store so you would see it before anything else.”
Ms. Glover immediately sought to have something done about this, and went before the Board of County Commissioners to bring the problem to their attention. She later appeared before the City Council with the same complaint.
“Commissioner Les Miller told me he would look into it, and see what was going on. At that time, he had no idea how dangerous these products were, and that they were being marketed to children.”
A few months later, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office got involved, and raided a warehouse on Benjamin Road that contained the chemicals used to make the synthetic marijuana, and some of the items packaged and ready for sale.
“I understood the problem was the people who were making this stuff kept changing the chemicals so you couldn’t outlaw the products,” said Ms. Glover.
“But, I just prayed there would be a way to get it out of our stores.”
Ms. Glover appeared before the City Council and County Commission again, and revealed to them the products were killing young children.
“I brought them a petition I had circulated, and I started handing out fliers warning other parents about the products.”
On Wednesday, Ms. Glover claimed a victory when Commissioners voted unanimously to put the problem in the hands of their Code Enforcement and Consumer Protection Offices.
“Code Enforcement will now look in the stores, and fine a violator $500 per violation,” said Comm. Miller.
“A violation is considered one of the packages, so if you have hundreds, that’s $500 each. If it’s a repeat violation, the fine will go up to $1,000 per violation. We decided to hit them in the pocket, because it wasn’t a criminal offense to sell or use the products.”
Comm. Miller said it took them 7 months to come up with this plan, but he’s happy something is being done.
“Our enforcement area will include all of Hillsborough County, including Plant City, Temple Terrace, and the City of Tampa. Councilman Frank Reddick will be making sure the city is responding.”
Comm. Miller said now it is a violation to sell, manufacture or possess synthetic marijuana products.
City Council To Adopt Separate Ordinance
On the suggestion of Councilman Frank Reddick, the City Council Thursday voted to adopt their own ordinance, and have asked City Attorney Julia Mandell-Cole to have a draft prepared by April 4th.
Councilman Reddick said they will be seeking an inter-local agreement with the county to help with the cost of testing the products.
“I also feel it would be more threatening to have Tampa Police officers enforce the ordinance instead of the city’s Code Enforcement officials.”
Attorney Mandell-Cole said that would involve a Municipal Ordinance Violation process, and although the matter would go before a judge, it’s still not exactly criminal.
