WARREN, Mich. (WJBK) -
She couldn't get her hands on any marijuana, so Brittany Palazzolo went for the next best thing, at least she thought.
"It wasn't at all kind of like marijuana, but I liked it, so I kept doing it."
A vicious cycle turned into an ugly habit that caused the 23-year-old Saint Clair Shores mom to steal to support her addiction until she says she hit rock bottom.
"20 grams a day if not more. ... Stealing over 50 bucks from my mom a day to try to keep smoking it. ... I had smoked it and I got so like depressed that I wanted to commit suicide. I begged and cried and pleaded to my mom to take me to a hospital because I needed to be locked up or else I was going to hurt myself, and at that point I realized that there was something majorly wrong with me and I stopped."
Palazzolo says she always came up to a Shell station on Greater Mack in Saint Clair Shores to buy it. We checked. They're still selling it. We asked the clerk why.
"It's a good question. I just started here two days ago," he said.
If someone came up to him and tried to buy it, would he sell it to them?
"Yeah. I know nothing about it."
The Shell is selling it now, but likely not much longer. Macomb County leaders have signed a Health Department order denying local establishments to sell K2 or any synthetic drugs. If any health inspectors catch the stores with the stuff, the owners will face a fine, jail time or both.
How will officials learn of these businesses? K2 Kops -- concerned citizens like Bill Miskokomon, who planned to go store to store starting with USA Smokers in Macomb Township.
"Just asking him if he's aware of the program and see if he's going to cooperate."
Eddie Kassem agreed. He said they used to sell it a long time ago, but not now. Why did they pull it off the shelves?
"It's bad for people."
Miskokomon has been in the news a lot lately for his personal struggle with his own son and helping to get the stuff banned in Shelby Township and Citgo gas stations nationwide.
"He's saving our kids. Somebody has to stand up. Somebody has to fight. Somebody has to do the right thing," one man told us.
It's pretty easy to get involved with the K2 Kops program. If you see it being sold at a store in Macomb County, just report it by visiting www.markhackel.com.
West Bloomfield is also taking a stand against K2 and other synthetic drugs.
Monday, the City Council voted to ban the sale of the chemicals, including bath salts. Any business caught selling the products will face a misdemeanor, including a $500 fine and possibly up to 90 days in jail for each offence.
Many other communities are also mobilizing to get K2 off store shelves. Police chiefs in Canton, Plymouth and Northville Townships are sending letters to businesses warning them they could face criminal or civil penalties if they sell K2, spice or bath salts.
Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel says store owners could face penalties if synthetic drugs are not removed from their shelves. (Credit: WJBK | myFOXDetroit.com)
A package of K2. (Credit: WJBK | myFOXDetroit.com)
