A new drug war begins

December 28, 2010|By Karl Man | KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

(SALINA,Kan) — Police say it's a drug problem, one they can't do anything about. Ingesting bath salts and smoking potpourri have gained what police call a "cult like" following in recent months.

Police say a Kansas University student, Elijah Taylor of Salomon, home on winter break, threw himself in front of highway traffic last week near Salina. Taylor was killed; officials await a toxicology report after finding bath salts on him.

"What is being put in them nobody knows," says Capt. Mike Sweeney of the Salina police department.

What officials do know is that young adults are ingesting bath salts and smoking potpourri to get high...and it's all legal.

”Even if we catch it in their possession there's nothing we can do about it,” added Sweeney.

Eight months ago “The Grind” in Salina began manufacturing and selling potpourri. Management did not shy away when they said this product has simply sky rocketed both in sales and popularity in that time period.

"It’s a word of mouth deal, if you know what's going on you know what's going on, if not, were not trying to let you in on it."

Co-owner Eric Srack says his store simply sells potpourri what the costumer does with it when they leave the store is their decision.

"All crass aside, we literality tell costumers that don't know what they are doing with it to take the contents, dump it in a bowl, and smell it.”

“If you want to do anything else with it you need to talk to the friend that told you to come down here,"

Police don't buy that argument.

"It’s no different from a local drug dealer who imports drugs that nobody knows who made them or what type of substances are in them," added Sweeney.

The Grind says as long as it's legal...it will still sell them.

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