State's Attorney Glasgow: 'Get This Stuff Off Your Shelves!'
Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow — backed by Rep. Tom Cross and many of the county's police chiefs — put the word out about ridding the state of synthetic marijuana.
Shop owners are raking in outlandish profits on synthetic marijuana, marking up the product as much as 500 percent, said Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow.
And that's why at least some merchants plan to continue carrying it despite a law that makes its sale a felony starting Jan. 1.
During a Tuesday press conference at Shorewood Village Hall, Glasgow — who was joined by state Rep. Tom Cross, R-Oswego, Will County Executive Larry Walsh and a veritable army of Will County police chiefs — told of the reluctance to stop selling supposedly dangerous, and soon to be illegal, drugs.
The state's attorney said he learned of this lack of cooperation from Crest Hill Alderman Charles Convery, who visited stores in his city to alert them to the new law banning synthetic marijuana.
"They told him no, they're not pulling it off (the shelves) because the profit's too good," Glasgow said.
"We're going to have to force them, by passing this legislation," Glasgow said. "The message is: Get this stuff off your shelves!"
Marketed as incense and currently legal for anyone of any age to buy, synthetic marijuana poses great health risks, Glasgow said.
"It's not a case of getting the munchies," he said. "You get psychotic. You get edgy."
And while most of the products are clearly marked that they are not for human consumption, shop owners are all too quick to instruct customers on how to consume them and to point out which ones are the most effective, said Dave Margliano, a retired investigator and police sergeant.
"They tell you how to smoke it," Margliano said. "They tell you which ones to buy for a different kind of high."
Margliano found this out after going undercover and checking out numerous tobacco shops.
"He put on his American flag bandanna, let his beard grow, got on his Harley and visited some of these stores," Glasgow said.
And the more intoxicated Margliano pretended to be, Glasgow said, the more aggressive shop owners got in their attempts to sell synthetic marijuana.
Glasgow researched and drafted the law and it was sponsored by Cross, who lauded the bipartisan effort in Will County to push the legislation through.
The law makes both the possession and sale of synthetic marijuana a felony. The penalty for selling more than 200 grams of the product can range as high as 30 years in prison with a $500,000 fine.
Shorewood Police Chief Aaron Klima, whom Glasgow said is on the "cutting edge" of synthetic marijuana enforcement, said he was pleased with the state law.
In Crest Hill, where Convery ran into uncooperative shop owners, Police Chief Dwayne Wilkerson said his department will be laying down the law in the new year.
"We've sent out letters to echo Mr. Glasgow's warning," Wilkerson said. "We'll be out the first of January to enforce this with both undercover and uniformed officers."
In This article
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Village of Shorewood
1 Towne Center Blvd, Shorewood, IL -
Shorewood Police Department
903 W Jefferson St, Shorewood, IL
son of a son of a cumbers
9:44 am on Thursday, December 15, 2011
Glasgow is a commie-why would someone stop selling something with a huge profit margin that is not currently illegal? I know-he's a union-thug-backed Dem that is trying to "redistribute wealth"!
Tony
9:44 am on Thursday, December 15, 2011
I have seen people sitting in the parking lots at some of these stores smoking this stuff like you would crack, these were not kids. My grandson is 15 years old and has permenant mental damage because of this stuff, if you think this stuff is a joke go talk to an ER doctor and find out for yourself, there have been deaths linked to the use of this crap.
son of a son of a cumbers
9:57 am on Thursday, December 15, 2011
it may not be a joke-but it's legal. you and Glasgow should get that through your heads
Tony
11:03 am on Sunday, December 18, 2011
The legal eagles have known about this stuff for a long time, they tried to adress this problem over a year ago but the manufactures of the drugs changed the name of some of the ingridients to get around the law,I hope they did a better job this time and I hope they inforce it, and I will be doing my best to help them.
Infamous Steve
9:59 am on Thursday, December 15, 2011
I don't think the guy in the background of the photo will be passing any message along. Considering the fact that he must of smoked some of the syn bud and that is why it looks like he is sleeping. Either that or he really doesn't care what Glasgow has to say.
Walter Anderson
2:26 pm on Thursday, December 15, 2011
The "guy in the background" is, I believe Tom Cross, the State Rep that got the bill through. This has nothing to do with political belief - it has to do with public health and endangerment of lives. I know someone personally who started with weed and ended up with herion and a two year prison sentence. She ruined her life at age 19 and for what?
Hugo
3:26 pm on Thursday, December 15, 2011
The upcoming ability of police to issue ordinance tickets for up to 10 grams of cannabis appears to dove-tail this law.
Ernie Knight
9:22 am on Friday, December 16, 2011
Son, you don't get it. It's not legal ... any more. Simply because criminals can keep coming up with new synthetic analog drugs which have not been outlawed, does not mean they are OK or should not be prohibited by law. If you prefer capitalism unfettered by concerns for consumer health and safety, may I suggest China.
son of a son of a cumbers
4:28 pm on Friday, December 16, 2011
Dad-I do get it-as long as it can be sold LEGALLY to the public-IT IS LEGAL
William
7:03 am on Saturday, December 17, 2011
You must be seeling the crap....................... If your 15 year old had brain damage from this crap, would you still think because its legal that it is OK????..............AS OF JAN 1, 2012 IT IS ILLEGAL....................can you not understand the written word or are you brain damaged??
son of a son of a cumbers
11:30 am on Saturday, December 17, 2011
Let me say it slower for you Walter- c u r r e n t l y i t i s n o t i l l e g a l s o i t c a n s t i l l b e s o l d l e g a l l y.
William
5:43 pm on Saturday, December 17, 2011
Let me see if you can read.............my comment clearly states what you just said.................... you must be related to certain politicians that don't listen or comprehend things that are right in front of their faces.................Clearly Mr. Glasko GETS IT................He UNDERSTANDS how DANGEROUS this SHIT is..................YOU on the other hand, OBVIOUSLY do not give a crap if anybody gets hurt or dies..............the name is WILLIAM too...........son of a son of whatever kind of despicable human being you are NOT
Ernie Knight
9:30 am on Monday, December 19, 2011
Actually its been ILLEGAL for some time in many places. It's been banned in Naperville for years. Illegal in Aurora, as well as other municipalities and other states. The state law simply hasn't taken effect yet. So "son of a . . ." enjoy your stash before the New Year.