Forsyth County leaders want to put restrictions on non-regulated drug substitutes commonly found in convenience stores, smoke shops and other retailers, but it's proving to be more difficult that originally thought.
Commissioners held the first of two public hearings regarding changes to the licensing requirements. If the changes get approved, retailers would need a license to sell "unregulated marijuana, opiate, and steroid substitutes and alternative nicotine products, licensing for alternative nicotine products and regulations for the substitutes."
Commissioners also want to create penalties to a business's alcohol license if they violate the rules of the new licensing and create restrictions on how close to a school or church the business can be located if selling alternative nicotine products, such as vape juice.
The annual licensing fee would cost $1,000 for stores that primarily sell the products and be lowered to $750 for stores where the products are “not the primary purpose of retail sales of the establishment.”
Sheriff Ron Freeman expressed his concerns during the hearing.
"I think we have some challenges in enforcement of this. We're going to have to continue to do some work to get there. I think everybody has the same goal. Everybody has the same intent. Everybody sees the positivity in doing what we're doing, but I have to tell you, I don't think we're there yet - but I think we can get there," Freeman said.
Sheriff Freeman told the board members he supported their intentions to keep the residents - and specifically the children - safe, but said the wording of the changes makes enforcement difficult.
"So, if you are looking at exhibit A under section 50.5 where the definition of unregulated opiates substitutes, to give you an example, under 2B 'is marketed with a specific intent to circumvent the criminal penalties for opiates under Georgia law.' I doubt I'm going to find anything on the market that says, 'it's better than methamphetamine', 'gives a feeling like methamphetamine', 'gives a feeling like oxycodone', 'gives a something like that'. That terminology as written, I just want you to understand the challenges," Freeman said.
He assured the board that he would work with the county attorney to try to help define the issue in order to find a way to enforce the regulations.
Commissioners plan to hold their second public hearing on the matters during their January meeting.
