Recreational use of psychoactive herbal incense, psychoactive bath salts and similar products known as “synthetic drugs” has been documented to cause hallucinations, agitation, psychosis, aggression, suicidal and homicidal ideations, cannibalism and death. While state and federal laws and regulations prohibit some synthetic drugs, the makers of these drugs continually alter the composition of the compounds in their products so as to escape the purview of these laws and regulations.

It is the purpose and intent of this chapter to prohibit the sale or possession of psychoactive herbal incense and psychoactive bath salts, as those terms are defined herein, in the city to protect and preserve the public peace, safety, health, and welfare of those within the city and to provide the city with reasonable measures to address the dangers to the community posed by synthetic drugs, including those not regulated by state or federal law. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to cease or limit or encroach in any way upon any field of law occupied by federal law or by the laws of the state of California. (Ord. 1622 § 2 (part), 2015)