Pismo Beach moves to ban synthetic drug sales

Pismo Beach has taking a first step toward an ordinance banning sales and distribution of a handful of recreational synthetic drugs.

The City Council unanimously approved the ordinance at its meeting Tuesday.

The ordinance bans psychoactive bath salts — which the city defined as “any crystalline or powder product that contains a synthetic chemical compound that, when consumed, elicits psychoactive or psychotropic stimulant effects” — and psychoactive herbal incense — defined as “any organic product consisting of plant material that contains a synthetic stimulant compound that, when consumed, elicits psychoactive or psychotropic euphoric effects.”

The ordinance will have to go back to the City Council for further readings and final approval before going into effect.

This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 4:28 PM with the headline "Pismo Beach moves to ban synthetic drug sales."