There are very few people in America that have a complete understanding of the issues and challenges related to the synthetic drug industry; public safety, local and state legislation, civil and criminal litigation, education, health risks, addiction, synthetic drug testing, homeland security, how synthetic drugs government regulations, etc.
Cindy Farmer understands this industry.
Cherokee Country Drug Court Director Cindy Farmer presented at the Cherokee Synthetic Drug Town Hall Meeting on April 4, which is one of many such forums where citizens, law enforcement and elected officials have been given the opportunity to learn from the best.
Daily, Farmer works for the Cherokee County Drug Court helping the many citizens that have fallen prey to drug dealing predators at a vulnerable time in their lives. She is very passionate about her job and is often characterized as a workaholic by those that know her.
I don’t think that Oklahoma has any idea how lucky they are to have been blessed with Farmer. She has been advocating for education and effective local and state legislation for years.
Unfortunately, Farmer has been met with resistance in her battle against the greedy sociopaths that have grasped the opportunity to take advantage of Oklahoma’s vulnerable teens and young adults.
Farmer hasn’t given up in the face of opposition to heed her warnings of danger.
Luckily, the voices of reason are finally listening.
Cindy Farmer
Cherokee County Drug Court Director
In the wake of increasing ER reports, law enforcement and EMS calls and domestic violence incidences, authorities are being forced to heed Farmers warnings.
Let’s make this as clear as possible. The synthetic drug industry is unique. We have never, in the history of our country, been faced with the challenges that face us today, with regard to synthetic drugs. That may be why so many delayed the many opportunities to heed her warning.
Farmer is not a chemist, legislator, attorney, law enforcement, physician or mental health professional. However, she is a very intelligent and passionate advocate who has spent the last three years studying the pubic safety and criminal justice challenges that synthetic drugs present.
Oklahoma has found itself behind the 8 ball because of this delay.
The good news is that the ‘Powers That Be’ are starting to listen. Those with the authority to bring about change in Oklahoma are finally coming to the table in discussions about how they may effectively protect their constituants.
I urge them to use Farmer’s knowledge and experience in their efforts to bring about change across Oklahoma.
The To the Maximus Foundation tracks synthetic drug legislation and other efforts to police this industry.
We are always amazed in the discrepancies between the states that ‘get it’ and those that don’t. Those that ‘got it’ are not having to be faced with the enormous drain to the public till when having to respond to the many needs of those that have fallen victim to synthetic drugs.
Mental health facilities are being forced to care for patients that are much more labor intensive than those that have fallen victim to plant based drugs. Many victims that are now mentally handicapped become a drain on the public till because they are no longer able to care for themselves financially and are in need of mental health care.
Law enforcement is having to respond to cases that are often more labor intensive as are emergency rooms across the state. Synthetic drug users are often violent and dangerous.
I would urge Oklahoma officials to take advantage of Farmer’s expertise. In this new and emerging industry, there are very few people that have a complete understanding of all of the challenges and possible solutions. They will not find anyone that knows more about this industry than Farmer.
Below is an article about the Cherokee Synthetic Drug Town Hall Meeting which Farmer presented, hosted by Reaching Our Hulbert Community (ROHC), a 501(c)3 youth organization. Thanks ROHC for giving Farmer the opportunity to help increase awareness.
Cherokee County Drug Court raising fake pot Awareness
Reported by Dontaye Carter
Cherokee County is fighting the war on synthetic marijuana head on.
The Juvenile Drug Court Director Cindy Farmer raised awareness about the dangerous effects Thursday night at the Hulbert High School auditorium to families in Green Country. One woman told FOX23’s Dontaye Carter the fake pot nearly destroyed her marriage.
“It was either that or me,” said Cleathel Faber.
She says seeing the road his life was going down made her give him an ultimatum.
“It was like he checked out on life he was no longer with us.”
Last year, when her husband stopped smoking marijuana he started using the fake stuff.
“It got so bad he was urinating blood,” Faber said.
“I have many students who say it’s nothing like marijuana,” said Farmer. “It’s more like methamphetamine.”
She showed us a chemical in the fake cannabinoid that is listed as poison.
“Kids are having strokes, they’re having seizures,” Faber said. “They’re having heart attacks they’re committing suicide. That’s a big one. The suicide is really bothersome.”
She’s taught CLEET certified synthetic marijuana classes for law enforcement. Now she’s working to bring that message home for families with a synthetic marijuana class.
“They made be sold across the counter currently but they are not safe alternatives to marijuana,” she added.
In 2010, The Drug Abuse Warning Network (Dawn) report says 12 to 29 year olds made up 75-percent of the emergency room visits for synthetic cannabinoids.
“It’s killing our young people, it’s killing our adults. We need to get it off the street,” said Faber.
In an effort to bring the most in-depth news regarding the synthetic drug industry to you, I believe that we’ve neglected the general Synthetic news, such as the horrible injuries, violence, hospitalizations, mental disabilities, etc.
I used cannabis regularly for the best part of 40 years and if the horrible things that anti-cannabis people use as the basis for their views were true, I would have to assume I would not be in very good shape by now.
