Paso Robles City Council bans various psychoactive products 

It took all of about 10 minutes for the Paso Robles City Council to ban bath salts and spice.

No, we’re not talking about the common household products.

Synthetic substances like psychoactive herbal incense—also known as spice—and psychoactive bath salts have become hot topics recently, coming into the crosshairs of law enforcement and prompting cities to ban sale of the substances within city limits. The state has made attempts to ban spice, but producers have stayed one step ahead by repeatedly altering the chemical makeup of the substance.

These products have created quite a stir both locally and nationally after drawing blame for tales of bizarre and sometimes violent behavior. Locally, the substances can be bought legally, though a wave of restrictions may be underway after Atascadero banned the substances in August, and Paso Robles followed suit on Nov. 18.

The council banned both the sale and possession of the synthetic substances, as well as the controversial-yet-accessible substance salvia divinorum.

-- Melody DeMeritt - former city council member, Morro Bay