HOUSTON - With other cities and communities taking a hard look at the product, Spice, and its potential for danger, Houston City Marshal, Billy Voyles, is preparing to address the city aldermen about a potential ban on its sale in Houston.

The product is marketed and sold as an air freshening product, but has been reportedly been used by buyers to smoke to achieve a "high" very similar that produced by marijuana. Spice products have warning labels that it is not for human consumption and, as a potpourri product, is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

But Voyles said the potential for danger is too high and he does not want to risk the health of the people of the community by allowing its sale in Houston.

"It's incense, that's what it is," Voyles said. "They're rolling it up and smoking it. It's dangerous. It's making people's heart rates jump up and causing hallucinations."

Voyles said he keeps an eye out for the product and has not seen it on sale in town - and that's the way he wants to keep it.

"I'm planning to take it to the board to see if it can be banned from sale," Voyles said.

Several other communities in Northeast Mississippi have banned the sale of the substance or are considering doing so. The City of Tupelo voted unanimously July 20 to prohibit the sale, purchase, use or possession of Spice and its equivalents. The substance has most often been found in convenience stores, tobacco shops or purchased online.

Voyles wants the City of Houston to join other towns in the region and ban the sale and use of Spice by any name.

"People need to be aware of it," Voyles said. "It's dangerous and we don't need it here."

Common names

Spice

Spice Gold

Spice Silver

Spice Diamond

Spice Artic Synergy

Spice Tropical Synergy

Spice Egypt

Voodoo Spice

K2

K2 Blonde

K2 Summit

K3

Zohal

Yucatan Fire

Genie

White Dragon

Blue Dream

Sugar Sticks

Triple X

Mojo

Jamaican Gold Bud

Smoke

Sence

ChillX

Earth Impact

Gorillaz

Skunk

Galaxy Gold

Space Truckin

Solar Flare

Moon Rocks

Blue Lotus

Aroma

Scope