Synthetic Marijuana: Chicago Police Seize 100 Pounds Of Banned Substance In Raid

Chicago police say the pounds of synthetic marijuana and paraphernalia seized from a Northwest Side warehouse Friday was bound for the streets and marketed directly at children.

A task force that monitors possible drug shipments alerted Chicago police Friday that a 64-pound package containing banned substances could be bound for Chicago, and the CPD obtained a warrant to search the destination warehouse, the Chicago Tribune reports. Inside they found 100 pounds of synthetic marijuana, valued at about $775,000.

Police are calling the warehouse and its operations a “shipping hub for narcotics,” the Chicago Sun-Times reports. While executing the warrant, police also found more than 100 cases of drug-related paraphernalia including packing and shipping materials and cash.

Earlier this month, the CPD intercepted $265,000 worth of synthetic marijuana bound for Chicago packaged in “Scooby Snax” foil packets. The same packaging was found on synthetic marijuana in the Northwest Side warehouse bust, ABC Chicago reports.

“Synthetic marijuana poses a significant public health risk and it is important to keep this product from hitting our streets,” James O’Grady, Commander of the Narcotics Division, told Fox Chicago after the first package was intercepted.

Chicagoan Rajendrakumar Patel, 52, and Davendra Patel, 61, of Bloomingdale were arrested after police executed the search warrant and face two felony counts each of possession of a controlled substance, NBC Chicago reports.

Ban on ‘Spice’ and ‘Bath Salts’ extended in Yavapai County pending trial

CAMP VERDE — Late Monday, Yavapai County Superior Court Judge Michael Bluff extended the ban on the Yavapai County sale of “novelty powders” and other synthetics called “spice” and “bath salts” by known retailers.

In a 14-page ruling, Judge Bluff affirmed a permanent injunction against nine of the 12 retail shops named in the complaint filed by Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk. The judge further issued a preliminary injunction against the remaining three known retailers: Wes Lance Trading Company, Steve Ogden and the Island Store.

Retailers in Prescott that have been banned from selling the novelty powders are Prescott Quick Stop, Mike’s Mini Mart, and The Island Store. Shops in Cottonwood banned from the sale of these drugs are Hawaiian Honey Swimwear and Pipe Dreamz Smoke Shop. Shops in Prescott Valley that are banned are X-Hale Smoke Shop, Mario’s PV Quick Stop, the Hobby Glass, Smoke N’ Thingz, Mike’s Connection and Texaco on Highway 69. Wes Lance Trading Company in Camp Verde has also been banned.

“What is so important is that parents and their children, as well as all community members, understand how dangerous and life-threatening these synthetic drugs are,” said Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk. “I knew this stuff was horrible when we started the trial, yet I was still overwhelmed with the testimony recounting the violence and self-destruction, and how these drugs are effecting everyone across the county.”

This ruling comes after three days of Superior Court testimony in late August. Among his findings, Judge Bluff wrote that novelty powder drugs are synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones that have effects similar to marijuana and methamphetamine, but more intense, unpredictable, dangerous and addictive. The judge further found that the novelty powders are packaged to mimic the appearance and names of recreational illegal drugs, and despite the warnings on the packages that they are “not for human consumption,” they are sold solely for human consumption.

The street names include: Go Fast, K2, Spice, Sprinklezz, Incense, Potpourri, Herbal Sachets, Glass Cleaner, Felt Cleaner, Go Fast Carpet Cleaner, Exuberance Powder, Tickle Talc, Bath Salts, Smokin’ Dragon, Mr. Nice Guy, Fear and Loathing, Diablo, Amped, G6, Eight Ballz, White Lightening, Crazy Train, Hashish 6X, Token Monkey, Black Gold 20X, Legal Devil, Funky Green Stuff, and Bliss.

In issuing the injunctions, the judge found that evidence at the hearing showed that the novelty powders cause serious physical and mental harm to the users, including dangerous increases in metabolic rates resulting in dangerous hyperthermia (overheating), increased heart rate, stroke, cardiovascular collapse, seizures, and death.

The judge found that users often suffer from delusions and hallucinations, exhibiting signs of severe psychosis, paranoia and anxiety, and that users will often suffer long-term effects from the drugs such as psychosis, depression, insomnia, suicide ideation and self-mutilation.

The judge observed that users under the influence of synthetic cannabinoids and cathinones will often engage in aggressive acts of violence against medical and law enforcement personnel trying to assist them, and innocent bystanders; and that synthetic cannabinoids and cathinones may be even more addictive than marijuana or methamphetamine.

The judge found that the evidence from the hearing shows that novelty powders are having a serious and negative impact on emergency medical services in Yavapai County and that the emergency medical professionals of the community report a dramatic increase over the last eighteen months in patients needing emergency medical treatment.

Among his findings, the judge noted: the evidence shows that the patients are often physically injured due to acts of self-harm, and that they are violently combative; that as many as 20 patients a week are presenting at Yavapai County’s three emergency rooms for treatment due to ingestion; that patients under the influence of novelty powders are violently combative, “out of their minds,” and that violent attacks on paramedics, doctors and nurses are common with such patients; that it is frequently necessary for hospital personnel to physically restrain, sedate, and intubate patients in order to treat the patient and eliminate danger to hospital personnel; and that these patients represent a serious drain of hospital and community resources available for medical emergencies.

The judge found there is a strong likelihood Yavapai County will prevail on the merits, and ruled that the sale of novelty powders presents a likelihood of irreparable injury to the people of Yavapai County. The judge declared that public policy favors the ban.

A copy of the Preliminary and Permanent Injunctions, as well as all the pleadings and affidavits, can be found at the Yavapai County Attorney’s website at http://www.yavapai.us/coatty/press-releases/court-pleadings-bath-salt-ban/.

The Yavapai County Attorney’s Office asks that community members with information about anyone selling synthetic drugs in Yavapai County contact the office at (928) 771-3344 and ask to speak with Maggie.

Code Black Incense Has Closed

Code Black, the last bastion for aromatherapy enthusiasts, has permanently closed its doors. As of midnight last Sunday, the final and, arguably, most professional and courteous herbal incense business in the United States, has thrown in the towel for reason unknown.
Although it’s strictly speculation, we find it likely that Code Black is encountering the ongoing efforts of Operation Log Jam – specifically they’re chemical importation prohibitions at customs. In addition to this, Operation Log Jam is making it harder for bulk herbal distributors to find materials customary in herbal incense, such as damiana, wild lettuce, and other ingredients to Code Black’s famous incense products.
Shortly after Operation Log Jam, Code Black Incense announced that they were closing, only to remain partially open for a liquidation sale and to never fully discontinue sales. This was followed by a mass email sent to retail customers announcing that they were re-opening, albeit on a limited basis. With little reported customer service, no promotions, and highly variable stock, it seemed a rocky reopening at best.
In retrospect, it’s likely that Code Black was simply trying to evacuate their remaining stock. The active chemicals throughout each of their lines was UR-144 and it’s analogs; UR-144 is not strictly illegal, though it is guaranteed that the DEA and other Federal bodies will argue that it is an analogue of some controlled substance, such as JWH-018 and its brethren. Whether or not they’ll succeed is unclear, but with major manufacturers dying of from this war of attrition and drought, it doesn’t really matter. Whether incense is legal or not, the industry is rapidly being choked to death. It might, in fact, already be dead and what we see now are simply ghosts or death rattles. Only time will tell.

2 held for import of ‘Spice’ drug

ABU DHABI: The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court on Monday looked into two cases of importing and possessing a narcotic material known as Spice.

In the first case, an Asian national was charged with importing the material for the purpose of trafficking and consumption, while in the other case an Arab national was charged with importing the drug for consumption.

The Asian was arrested after he received a consignment of the drugs through a shipment and 16 bags of the drug were seized.

The Arab suspect was arrested the same way but with 8 packets of the drug was seized. The court decided to postpone the case to Oct.21 based on the request for a lawye.

Spice forum in Hoover

HOOVER, Ala (WIAT) – Spice was taken off the streets and made illegal in 2011. But just because it’s no longer legal doesn’t mean it’s gone.

That was the topic at a forum at Simmons Middle School in Hoover Tuesday night. Lt. Mike Reese, an investigator with the Alabama ABC Board, says since the criminalization of the drug it’s gone underground like all other illicit narcotics.

But this isn’t just a law enforcement problem. For some it’s a life and death issue. Steve Murphree’s son Brandon killed himself July 3, 2011. Murphree says it was the hallucinations caused by the drug that drove his son to shoot himself.

The dangers have been made clear, so what is the draw. What is it that makes Spice attractive. One former user says it’s the high. 17 year old Zachary Higginbotham says it’s a very different high than marijuana – something similar to the high from using inhalants.

Troubleshooter: Cops can’t stop store from selling spice

CLARKSVILLE, IN (WAVE) – A dangerous drug is being sold right out in the open right in the heart of Kentuckiana. The WAVE 3 Troubleshooter Department went undercover to expose how one local business is getting away with it and why police have not been able to stop it.

Business is booming at one of southern Indiana’s hottest new locations, but no one wants to talk about what is on the menu.

Police said what they are buying inside Monroe’s in Clarksville is synthetic marijuana. Its street name is spice. Spice is a shredded, dried plant sprayed with chemicals that produces a mind altering high.

The National Institute of Drug Abuse said people who smoke spice often feel psychotic effects. The effects include extreme anxiety, paranoia and hallucinations that have been linked to illness and death.

Spice is illegal in Indiana, but Troubleshooter Eric Flack discovered it is being sold right out in the open at Monroe’s. Hidden camera video caught a seemingly revolving door as streams of customers come and go. Parents and professionals. Young and old.

“I’ve seen it busier than Kroger right next door,” said Cpl. Tony Lehman of the Clarksville Police Department.

A WAVE 3 Troubleshooter producer went in undercover with a hidden camera to get a look at what was going on inside. The video shows there is nothing in the store but a pool table, a coke machine, a display case of glass pipes, and a man behind a counter who chose his words carefully.

“What you trying to get?” the man asked our undercover producer. She told him she was looking for spice.

“We don’t sell spice baby,” he said. “We got some incense.”

Although he referred to what he was selling as incense, his intent seemed clear when we asked him about the range of prices.

“Depends on how strong you want your incense,” the man told our undercover producer.

The undercover producer ended up buying something called Triple-X. It cost about $10 and was labeled “not for human consumption”, but it looked exactly like the synthetic marijuana linked to all those dangerous side effects.

The guy who gave our producer the Triple-X would not come out and talk to Troubleshooter Eric Flack when he returned to Monroe’s to get an explanation about what they were selling.

“Cut that (expletive) camera off man,” he said.

The Clarksville Police Department has been investigating the store for months but thus far have been unable to make any arrests.

“It’s extremely frustrating,” Cpl. Lehman said. “It’s just horrible for the community, it’s horrible for the kids and people who smoke this stuff, and its so frustrating that we can’t do anything about it.”

The Troubleshooter Department discovered the reason police can not do anything about it. Technology used by Indiana State Police can not keep up with the problem.

State Representative Milo Smith, who wrote Indiana’s spice law, said ISP’s lab equipment is not advanced enough to identify the newer, altered compounds of synthetic marijuana, which can be just a few molecules different from the original. Police said they can not press charges until tests confirm the presence of those banned chemical compounds.

Representative Smith said state police have not given up. He said ISP is now searching for private labs with equipment capable of proving what is being sold at Monroe’s is illegal so they can stop it from being sold on the open market.

In the midst of the Troubleshooter investigation, Monroe’s was the scene of a violent confrontation with a man who allegedly tried to break into the store and steal the synthetic marijuana.

Kevin Martin is now facing a list of charges that includes resisting arrest and burglary after he fought with officers who caught him trying to rob Monroe’s. Witnesses saw Martin throw a rock through the front door and called police. When officers arrived they said Martin fought with them and tried to escape before he was finally handcuffed and taken into custody.

The Indiana Attorney General’s office is aware of growing spice problem in the area and is trying to step up enforcement and is threatening to seize the assets of businesses caught selling spice if they don not sign an affidavit to stop.