Politics & Government

Montgomery to Consider Ban of Synthetic Drugs

Auroran Karen Dobner has been on a crusade to ban so-called "fake weed" since her son Max lost his life while under the influence. Tonight, Montgomery trustees will discuss whether to join Aurora, Sugar Grove and Yorkville in passing a ban.

It’s called synthetic marijuana, or – more colloquially – fake weed. And if you think it sounds less dangerous than the real thing, ask Karen Dobner.

On June 14, Dobner’s 19-year-old son Max was when his car crashed into a home in Batavia Township. Dobner believes he was of synthetic marijuana at the time – it is sold over the counter as potpourri, and marked “not for human consumption,” although she says it’s common knowledge that the substance is smoked.

It offers a high more intense than that of genuine marijuana, but since it is mixed with unknown chemicals, it can lead to dangerous side effects.

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Dobner, of Aurora, has said she is certain her son would not have smoked the substance – in his case, called iAroma – if he had known how dangerous it is. So she’s dedicated herself to educating people, and to working to stamp out the sale of fake weed entirely. She started the To the Maximus Foundation to help her achieve that goal.

Tonight, she’ll move one step closer, as trustees will begin discussing whether to ban synthetic marijuana within the village limits. Dobner’s foundation set up a tent at Montgomery Fest this year, and she said she’s had talks with Police Chief Dan Meyers about the issue.

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Meyers is requesting the ban. In a memo to trustees, he noted that while federal and state laws are in the works (an Illinois law banning fake marijuana goes into effect on Jan 1), larger units of government “cannot keep up with the changes in names and formulas as we can at the local level.”

As evidence of this, Meyers included a list of almost 250 different brand names for synthetic marijuana with his memo. Meyers said it is sold at gas stations and tobacco stores. Dobner said she gets calls all the time from people who see stores pushing the product, but she said she has not received any about Montgomery shops.

What surprises Dobner is that most parents are still not aware of fake marijuana and its dangers.

“One of the most shocking things about this is that it’s a $5 billion industry, and these greedy people managed to market it to our kids without us knowing it,” she said.

Montgomery’s ordinance would make it illegal to sell, use or possess any product containing synthetic cannabis, stimulants or psychedelics and hallucinogens. The Committee of the Whole is set to discuss it tonight, with an eye toward passing it at next Monday’s Village Board meeting.

The village would be following the lead of several other Fox Valley municipalities. Aurora last month, and Sugar Grove and did the same earlier this month. Oswego is considering a similar ban, according to Police Chief Dwight Baird. Dobner and her supporters Rabja Tobacco Store in Oswego over the weekend, trying to call attention to the issue.

Dobner said the local bans have helped – “We have worked very hard to close off any loophole we possibly could,” she said. But what’s needed, she said, is a reexamination of the law that allows its sale if it is marked “not for human consumption.” She said just the fact that it is dangerous and is being marketed to kids should be enough to have it pulled from the shelves.

“I would say to parents, don’t make the mistake I made,” she said. “Don’t think you have nothing to worry about. All it takes is one mistake.”

Tonight’s Committee of the Whole meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at , 200 N. River Street. It is free and open to the public.


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