AUBURN — The City Council could join its Lewiston counterpart in banning synthetic drugs such as bath salts and fake marijuana.

Deputy Police Chief Jason Moen told city councilors Monday that he doesn’t know of any Auburn establishments selling synthetic drugs.

“Bath salts are a huge problem in northern Maine, but here the problems have not been numerous,” Moen said. “There have been sporadic instances. What we don’t want is the synthetic drugs to push over to this side of the river now that they’ve been banned in Lewiston.”

Auburn councilors could see an ordinance on their agenda later this month.

The Lewiston City Council approved an ordinance that would make it illegal to stock, sell or possess products designed to produce illicit highs. It targets potpourri, incense, bath salts and other items that may say they are not meant for human consumption but clearly are. Labels on the products may promise mood enhancement, euphoria or a high, they may be packed to look like illegal drugs and they may be seem especially expensive.

Stimulants commonly referred to as bath salts are sold in gas stations, tobacco shops and convenience stores under names such as “Bliss,” “Drone” and “Peeve” or as a stain remover. Synthetic marijuana can be sold as incense or potpourri with names such as “Fake Weed,” “Spice” and “Hayzee.”

Such substances frequently contain narcotic or hallucinogenic chemicals that have not yet been regulated.

“We find the state and federal officials have a harder time keeping up with the individual chemicals,” Moen said. “We’ve found that an all-encompassing local ordinance tends to be the best way to deal with them.”

Councilors say the changes have their backing.

“The sooner we pass this, the better off we will all be in this city,” Councilor Leroy Walker said.

staylor@sunjournal.com

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