City of Utica Bans Bath Salts

"It is an epidemic and that's why I've been pushing for this legislation." It's quickly becoming the hot topic today and what some are calling the next crack cocaine.

5^th District Common Council Member Jerome McKinsey says, "I feel that the City of Utica has to take a stand, we have to put the word out there, that we're not going to tolerate it, we have to put the word out there that it's not OK to sell, participate, create, use the drug itself. And we just have to put the message on the street to both sides of that coin that it's not going to be a good thing to participate in in these synthetic drugs in any way."

            Mayor Palmieri introduced the current legislation back in April and tonight the Common Council approved it. He says, "This piece of legislation that we have will be a City ordinance, which will for the possession and sale of synthetic drugs, so we're very confident at this point, it's a step in the right directions, it's something we couldn't wait on it."

            The Mayor says he has been trying to get the legislation through as fast as possible. Palmieri added, "We're trying to get it through as fast as this drug is getting on scene, but more importantly we're making sure that we're dotting all our i's and crossing all our t's, that we have a law that can be enforceable."

            With the passage of the new law the maximum penalty will be a $250 fine or 15 days in jail.