Missouri Senate Passes K2 Ban

Intro:	Missouri Senators decide that marijuana, real or fake, needs to be outlawed.
RunTime:	0:40
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Senators made it a felony to possess thirty five grams or more of K-2. The same amount of marijuana is also a felony.

Senate sponsor Kurt Schaefer, a Columbia Republican, says the drug is a big problem in the workplace.

Actuality:	1SCHAEFK2.WAV
Run Time:	00:14
Description: "What I'm hearing from businesses who have employees. Some of those employees work at schools they operate heavy machinery, who are going out at lunch, getting stoned on this stuff and coming back in and saying, 'Yeah! Bought some K2 at the gas station. Smoked it!"

The proposed ban now goes back to the Missouri House for final approval.

If it becomes law, Missouri would become the second state, after Kansas, to ban K-2.

From the Missouri Senate, I'm Max Reiss, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro:	Missouri Senators vote to make fake marijuana illegal.
RunTime:	0:39
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Instead of making any amount of K-2 illegal, Missouri Senators put it on the same level as real marijuana.

If law enforcement catch you with 35 grams of the synthetic K-2, that's a felony, the same as marijuana.

Kansas City Democrat Jolie Justus proposed the lesser charge and compared it to alcohol offenses.

Actuality:	JUSTUSK21.WAV
Run Time:	00:11
Description: "If someone is gonna make the stupid decision to get off work and go and have a pint of vodka, or a few glasses of beer and then go back and drive a train, we've got a bigger problem."

Having anything less than 35 grams is a misdemeanor.

The proposed ban now goes to the House for final approval.

From the State Capitol, I'm Max Reiss, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro:	Missouri is one step closer to becoming the second state with a ban on synthetic marijuana also known as K2.
RunTime:	0:31
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: The House version of the ban made it a felony to have any amount of K-2.

Missouri Senators voted to change that Wednesday.

An amendment made possession of the fake pot a felony only if you have 35 grams or more.

Anything less is a misdemeanor.

That makes K-2 the same as marijuana - having 35 grams of that drug is also a felony.

Senators voted unanimously to pass the ban.

The bill now goes to the House where if it passes, would make Missouri only the second state to ban K-2.

From the State Capitol, I'm Max Reiss, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.