Seven Arrested In South Jersey Under New 'Synthetic Pot' Law
By David Madden
WILDWOOD, N.J. (CBS) -- Seven people have been arrested at the South Jersey shore for violations of a new New Jersey law prohibiting the sale of synthetic marijuana.
All but one of those facing charges operate souvenir shops along the Wildwood boardwalk. The other suspect runs a shop in nearby Rio Grande, NJ.
Six of the seven were charged with dispensing the fake grass, the seventh with selling other toxic chemicals.
New Jersey attorney general Jeffrey Chiesa suggests anyone who thought the state wouldn't crack down after implementing the new law in February (see related story) should think again.
"Now they know we're serious," Chiesa said today. "We charged them because they're selling a controlled dangerous substance. We'll continue to crack down in places that sell this stuff because it's incredibly dangerous to kids."
Officials seized 1,600 packets of material and over $120,000 in cash.
If convicted, each defendant could face up to five years in prison and fines up to $25,000.
