Deputy Stone reported to the St. Mary's County Alcohol Beverage Board on Oct. 14, 2010 that September enforcement activity included nine citations for underage alcohol consumption, nine driving-under-the-influence arrests (down from 23 in September last year), 35 arrests for controlled dangerous substances and 32 compliance checks with zero violations.

The department’s enforcement deputy, Deputy Stone, told the board the decline in DUIs reflected steps by businesses and State Highway safety programs and urged vigilance about a new product, commonly referred to as “K2,” being sold in a small number of liquor stores. "It's undetected on drug test," Deputy Stone said, and that people on probation sometimes use the product because it can evade standard screening. He said the product can cause seizures and that the health department has been notified and is researching the product’s effects and legal status.

The board heard from Retail Beverage Association representative Mr. Dent, who said the association had just been made aware of the product and planned to survey members to determine how common sales are and to work with Deputy Stone. "We're just concerned as everybody else is about it," Dent said, and described plans to educate members about potential harms and compliance considerations.

Board inspector Mr. Thompson reported ongoing compliance activity: "I've conducted 127 full inspections so far this year" and, in spot checks, he said inspectors were not seeing violations and that licensees appeared to be meeting requirements.

Deputy Stone and association representatives reiterated that the product was not sold in all stores and that regulators and local business groups would monitor and share information with the health department and other agencies. He said the product is illegal in many other states but had not yet been made illegal by Maryland legislation. The board noted the item for follow-up; the health department and the association are expected to continue research and outreach.

The board also received brief updates on statewide policy topics from the association, including possible bills on direct shipment of wine, proposed alcohol tax increases and potential recycling mandates for businesses; the association said it was tracking proposed legislation and working with the county’s licensing community.