Local shops pledge not to sell Spice, K2 and similar products

Demon Ritual Spicy Botanical I...

HOLLY, Michigan – Those wishing to purchase Spice, K2 or any other similar synthetic drug in the greater Holly area are going to have to look a little harder this week, thanks to the good work of the Holly Area Community Coalition, Oakland County leadership, the Holly Police Department and businesses who have agreed not to carry such products.

Synthetic marijuana is sold as incense or potpourri. The material is a mixture of herbs and spices, sprayed with a synthetic similar to THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Ingredients can vary widely as can the potency. Street names for it include Spice Gold,  Spice Silver, Spice Diamond, Fire & Ice, Yucatan Fire, Genie, Pep Spice, Blue Lotus, and Demon to name only a few.

Earlier this month, Oakland County leadership teamed with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, and called upon Oakland County merchants to stop selling synthetic marijuana products. Those businesses agreeing to sign the pledge were given a county-sponsored decal declaring theirs is a synthetic drug-free establishment.

Yesterday, representatives from the Holly Area Community Coalition and Holly Police Chief Elena Danishevskaya visited all area gas stations, convenience stores, supermarkets and smoke shops, asking that owners/managers sign the pledge.

Danishevskaya said a dozen of the 13 shops agreed to sign. The list includes CVS Pharmacy, Downtown Party Shoppe, Famous Food Center, Holly Foods, Holly Gas Station, Holly Party Shoppe North, Marathon, Mobil, and Beacon and Bridge gas stations, Rite Aid Pharmacy, Dirt Cheap Tobacco, and Hydro Grow.

Smoker’s Planet is the only store with synthetic marijuana products remaining on its shelves, and has yet to sign the pledge, Danishevskaya said.

“We thank all of the participating gas stations and retailers for being leaders and for being responsible retail owners,” she said.

Mary Ann Vergith

"I was glad that of the establishments we visited in the village of Holly, only one of the 13 is still carrying the products,” HACC Project Director Mary Ann Vergith said. “I was especially happy to see that a couple stores – Dirt Cheap Tobacco and the Downtown Party Shoppe North had already pulled the products from their shelves – it’s great to have such responsible business owners in our community.”

Vergith said Oakland County is in the process of putting together a data base containing all of the businesses in Oakland County that have taken the pledge not to sell synthetic drug products.

Those having questions about synthetic marijuana or other synthetic drug substances can contact the Oakland County Public Health Information Hotline at (800) 848-5533.