Police raid Duluth head shop for designer drugs

Over a dozen officers stormed the shop -- going through files and boxing up items. One person was arrested. The shop's owner says he's not selling any substances officially listed as banned in the state -- but acknowledged he operates in a gray area.

Author:
BMTN Staff
Updated:
Mar 8, 2018
Original:
Sep 21, 2011

Over a dozen officers stormed the shop -- going through files and boxing up items. One person was arrested. The shop's owner says he's not selling any substances officially listed as banned in the state -- but acknowledged he operates in a gray area.

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The 21-year-old was reportedly experiencing 'mental health challenges' and allegedly had a knife when deputies opened fire.

Officers charged in guns drawn and rounded up customers at The Last Place on Earth shop. It was part of a nationwide federal crackdown Wednesday on dealers who peddle what health experts consider the latest illegal drug epidemic: man-made chemicals designed to mimic marijuana, ecstasy and other illegal drugs.

An attorney for St. Louis County tells the Duluth News Tribune he expects to file charges against the Last Place on Earth. Police raided the shop in September and reportedly took synthetic marijuana, cash and 31 guns. The shop claims that was illegal search and seizure.

The Last Place on Earth in Duluth and two other synthetic drug retailers say they'll appeal the judge's decision. State lawmakers earlier this year passed a ban on synthetic drugs and their "analogs." The retailers argue the law is vague and incomprehensible to anyone besides experts. The judge who tossed out the suit says the retailers don't have enough evidence to back their claims.

Reports that "designer drugs" can have harmful side effects don't seem to be deterring many customers. Dozens of people line up outside Last Place on Earth in Duluth every weekday to buy chemicals that supposedly mimic the effects of illegal drugs. The store's owner says he expects the chemicals will bring in about $6 million in business this year.

The owner of The Last Place on Earth in Duluth sued the federal government this week stemming from a raid by the Drug Enforcement Agency in July, Agents reportedly seized a large amount of the store's inventory, including two vehicles and $3 million in cash.

Duluth police say their raid at The Last Place on Earth netted 20,000 packs of what they suspect is synthetic marijuana. Meanwhile, authorities were also seizing $2.8 million from the bank accounts of the shop's owner, Jim Carlson. The raid was part of a national crackdown on suspected sellers of synthetic drugs.

Federal agents swooped in on an auto body shop and immediately handcuffed the few dozen people working there at the time. By the time all was said and done, windows were smashed, doors broken, and agents had hauled off 15 people over alleged drug and immigration violations. The workers who weren't arrested were left dealing with a huge mess.

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