An effort has been launched in South Bend to stop the sales and use of synthetic marijuana.

City leaders gathered the community to a meeting Monday at Layman Chapel CME Church on South Kenmore Street.

The location was no accident: three young men at this street last year were rushed to a hospital after overdosing on synthetic drugs.

The city has launched “Not In Our Community”, an initiative that seeks to stop the spread of synthetic drugs that are often more dangerous than the drugs they’re mimicking.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg says their message is simple: “Do not sell this product, do not distribute this product, do not use this product.”