Village Set to Ban Synthetic Drugs

The village of Oswego is set to ban the sale, possession and use of increasingly popular synthetic alternative drugs like synthetic marijuana.

Trustees will discuss and likely vote on the ban at the Village Board meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at Many other area towns, including Aurora, Montgomery and Yorkville, have passed similar bans.

The ban comes after a , an Aurora mom whose son Max drove a vehicle through the front of a house in Batavia Township while possibly experiencing the side effects of synthetic marijuana.

The synthetic drugs  than their traditional counterparts and can cause panic attacks, high blood pressure and nausea in some people.

Dobner  that her son smoked some "potpourri," known as iAroma or Iaroma, hours before the one-car crash that killed him.

According to Dobner, there are several tobacco stop stores in Oswego that are selling synthetic marijuana, more commonly called "fake weed,"potpourri" or "incense.”

“My concern is that here, all the other communities around Oswego are doing everything they can to protect our youth and all our kids have to do is drive over to Oswego.  It’s time for Oswego to join us and protect our kids,” said Dobner earlier this month.

Trustees directed Police Chief and Interim Village Administrator Dwight Baird to draw up an ordinance at their Oct. 18 meeting.

According to village documents, those caught possessing or selling synthetic drugs will face a $750 ordinance violation fine plus applicable hearing costs through the village’s adjudication process.

Legislation banning these synthetic drugs has been passed in Illinois, but it will not take effect until January 1, 2012.  Dobner has been encouraging communities to pass ordinances that will take effect immediately.

“We’re confident that this is going to be a solution in Illinois, but it’s still sold widely on the internet. It’s going to be a battle that we’re going to be fighting for many years,” Dobner said.

Please see these other Patch articles for more information about  and . Two Patch reporters in Kane County  in several Kane County stores this summer, and last month.