Springfield Officials are announcing a new crackdown on what they describe as the dangerous and illegal Gas Station Weed.
It's marketed to youth, labeled as candy, and officials say it is putting people at risk.
Officials say the product is not regulated and often contains synthetic cannabis exceeding the limits of state law.
The ordinance bans the sale, manufacturing and disposition of synthetically derived cannabis products.
Violators could be fined 300 dollars per offense.
Springfield mayor Dom Sarno says “First off, I want to thank HHS Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris, Deputy Health Commissioner Ann Kissel and Cannabis Compliance Coordinator Xavier Williams for their efforts in identifying this public health and safety issue and working with my administration to create a local ordinance to crack down on this illegal product that is putting our families and children at risk. This illegal cannabis being sold, better known as ‘Gas Station Weed’, is dangerous and possesses a significant risk to our residents, especially our children, as the packaging for these items are often labeled to look like candy. On top of that, these dangerous items are placed in easy to reach locations where one can grab them off the shelf and counters, sometime right next to candy bars and bags of chips. These dangerous products, which even the State Cannabis Control Commission has deemed illegal, need to be removed from our neighborhoods in the name of public health and safety, and the establishments that peddle such illegal products will be held accountable to the full extent of the law allowed by this ordinance.”
And if a store doesn’t pay the fine, the city will place a lien on the property.
(Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP via Getty Images)
Photo: ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP / Getty Images