Local authorities will soon have the ability to close down businesses that sell synthetic drugs.
Tuesday morning, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors passed a public nuisance ordinance to help stop the flood of synthetic drugs into the area.
Selling spice and bath salts is illegal and the new ordinance would compliment existing state laws.
Medical experts say synthetic stimulants and cannabinoids can cause hallucinations, cardiac arrest and death.
"We have seen an increase in use among our children," said District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis at Tuesday's hearing. "It is being marketed to them in a way they don't quite understand. The types of behaviors we see are violent. They are psychotic. Something none of these teenagers can anticipate."
Board members are also supporting state legislative efforts to ban possession of synthetic drugs. Local Assemblymen Ben Huseo and Nathan Flecher, along with Senator Juan Vargas introduced the legislation. Huseo said the bill would halt the manufacture of the drug, since there are few regulations in place for what qualifies a synthetic drug.
"This law's going to catch all the modifications that they've made and all the modifications that they can make," Hueso said in a statement.
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