Fort Drum has notified four north country businesses that they could be off-limits to soldiers if they don't stop selling synthetic marijuana.

A certified letter has been sent to businesses in ten northern New York locations warning the merchants that they will be added to Fort Drum & the 10th Mountain Division's "Off-Limits" list if they continue selling products identified to adversely affect the health, safety and welfare of members of the Armed Forces.

All active, reserve and National Guard Army personnel are prohibited from using, possessing, manufacturing, selling, distributing, importing, or exporting "Spice" or similar substance containing synthetic cannabinoid, or THC substitute.

The synthetic marijuana is sold under such names as K-2, Legal Spice and Legal Funk. 

Service members found to be using marijuana or any other drug are subject to punitive actions to include discharge.

Currently one business, the High Life in Watertown, is off-limits to soldiers.

Fort Drum will not release the names of the notified businesses until they're officially added to the off-limits list.

The letter reads as follows:

"This action is being taken because it has come to the attention of the Armed Forces Disciplinary Review Board (AFDCB) that certain conditions reported at your establishment adversely affect the health, safety and welfare of members of the Armed Forces.

The conditions referred to are the sale of drug paraphernalia, Spice, Salvia Divinorum or any other variation of synthetic cannabis.

You have two weeks from receipt of this letter to respond, in writing, to the AFDCB to appeal this action.

Removal of the restriction will be considered by the AFDCB upon presentation of information that corrective action has been taken."