K2 officially banned in Tippecanoe County

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - A ban of the compound known as K-2, or Spice, is official in Tippecanoe County.

K-2 is a synthetic cannabinoid sold as an incense that many use as a drug. It has been associated with at least one death in Indianapolis.

On Tuesday, Tippecanoe County Commissioners passed first reading of the ordinance that would ban K-2 in the county. Then, commissioners suspended the rules to pass second reading of the ordinance to make it official.

Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Pat Harrington said K-2 isn't detectable through drug screenings.

"You can see how dramatic of an effect this has had on the public. It's affected the safety of our individuals, especially the young kids who are using it. We started hearing about this, I did, and I'm sure the Sheriff can talk about what he saw on the streets earlier, months and months ago," said Harrington.

Sheriff Tracy Brown said some retailers have already pulled the drug from store shelves.

"We are just starting to see some of the effects of this substance through the calls that we take. Clearly our friends who work in the emergency medical field, our emergency room physicians, our paramedics, our firefighters, are seeing and experiencing those overdoses as they respond on calls," said Brown.

With the ordinance comes a hefty fine. Violators could have to pay up to $250,000 in fines if caught selling, attempting to sell or bartering K-2.

State Senator Ron Alting, who was an advocate from the start about banning the drug, will submit a bill to the Indiana Senate on October 1st to ban the substance state-wide. Alting began looking into a ban about six months ago.

"In speaking to the chairmen of the committee that the bill will go to, they had no idea what it was about. Today I can assure you, all 150 in the general assembly know what it is about. Our phones are ringing off the hook. It is an absolute epidemic," said Alting.

Tippecanoe County's ordinance banning K-2 only applies to the county. Lafayette and West Lafayette are considering the similar ordinances. West Lafayette votes Tuesday night and Lafayette votes on September 13.