A story you'll only see on Fox23 News, Claremore police raid seven convenient stores. They asked the clerks for all the synthetic substance products they were selling and any paraphernalia sold with it.
Without hesitation the clerks turned it over to the officers after the officers told them selling it is illegal. That's according to the Oklahoma statutory title 632-401c and 632-101 paragraph 37. It states it is illegal to sell synthetic controlled substances.
Each clerk admitted they didn't know it was illegal to sell because each synthetic product is clearly marked with writing stating it is legal. It's marketed as an incense or potpourri. The products also state "not for human consumption" yet the products are sold with a pipe and other tools to smoke the product.
One by one, Claremore officers pack their unmarked trucks with box after box of packets filled with synthetic drugs.
“They told us each time, how to smoke it, what the effect would be on us, and make recommendations on which one we should purchase,” says Sgt. Steve Cox after he confiscated the synthetic substances.
Terry Holebroke watched the officers as they loaded up the substance packets into their truck. “I was like glad they took it out,” says Holebroke. “I see so many people going to other places and buying this K4.”
He lost a 17-year-old friend to the substance a year ago. It was the synthetic drug called K2.
“He went downstairs and his mom complained that he felt like he was trapped, and he had a heart attack 15 minutes later and died,” says Holebroke.
Holebroke hates seeing people buy it.
“Don’t smoke it,” says Holebroke. “It's going to ruin your life. It'll kill you. All it takes is one hit.”
Over the last five weeks, the local hospital in Claremore has seen twenty young patients admitted after smoking it.
“I don't want to lose a kid here in Claremore, that's my main concern,” says Sgt. Cox.
That’s why officers raided seven convenience stores, five in Claremore, one in Rogers County and one in Catoosa. Each store clerk would tell undercover officers, unknowingly, what the effects were of each product.
Call what you will, Killa Skunk, Haze, Mr. Marely, it's labeled "not for human consumption” but kids at every age are buying it and smoking it. Officers hope lawmakers start to write the law so any loop holes about selling synthetic substances are clogged up. Holebroke also wants to see this all end.
“I like to see them ban it,” says Holebroke. “It's basically killing the youngsters.”
