The Maryland House Judiciary Committee heard a bill on Tuesday that would allow Frederick County to prohibit the possession and distribution of synthetic marijuana.

Frederick County State Senator David Brinkley said the bill got a friendly reception and he hopes the committee will vote on it soon.

"I articulated the fact that the city and some of the municipalities had already banned the substance. We were requesting it be emergency legislation so the commissioners could enact an ordinance as soon as the Governor signs the bill into law".

Last year Frederick City and the towns of Walkersville and Thurmont banned the sale and possession of synthetic marijuana.

"Well, we've had a request for a state ban for a few years. In the event a state ban kicks in, certainly that would take precedence but in the mean time we certainly are interested in having the authority of Frederick County that the municipalities currently enjoy and some of the other counties enjoy".

Synthetic marijuana is sometimes sold under the names of ``spice'' or ``k2.''

Officials say that criminal enforcement of the sale and possession synthetic marijuana is challenging, since manufacturers can elude legal bans on products by making slight changes to their chemical structures.