It's legal now, but not for long. A man from Georgia was arrested at an Alachua County hotel last night for his psychotic behavior after taking a substance referred to as Spice. A woman had said her boyfriend had been smoking Spice and wasn't acting right. 41 year old Jose Hernandez was arrested and charged with attacking three deputies, but using the drug that may have sent him overboard isn't one of his charges, yet.
The Drug Enforcement Administration made the substances in Spice illegal as of March 1st, but that's at a federal level. Described as a marijuana copycat by law enforcement, Spice will not become illegal in Florida until later this year.
Sgt. Todd Thomas is part of the Gainesville, Alachua County Drug Task Force. Thomas says Hernandez was under the influence of Spice when deputies responded to a complaint of a naked man yelling and banging on hotel room doors at the Rodeway Inn in Southwest Alachua County. Hernandez faces charges for battery on three law enforcement officers, but nothing for his use of the substance Spice.
The substances used in Spice, or K-2, will become illegal in Florida beginning July 1st when it will be a felony to possess or sell it.