Police warning parents about incense

Two types raises concerns; some children reportedly smoking incense to get high

By Erik Sanzenbach
St. Tammany News
Published on Monday, December 15, 2008 8:34 AM CST

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Who would think that common incense would be harmful to humans?

That is what Slidell police are saying about two forms of incense called Spice Gold and Yucatan Fire. Slidell Police Chief Freddie Drennan has received several calls from concerned parents who have found their children are actually smoking the two types of incense to get high.

Drennan started an investigation and discovered via the Internet there is a Web site where the two brands are sold, and they are not cheap. According to the Web site they both sell for about $18 a gram and are sold in 3 gram amounts.

Police spokesman Capt. Kevin Foltz said there is one store in Slidell that sells Spice Gold and Yucatan Fire. While he would not give the name of the store, Foltz said the shop’s owners told him they were sold out of both incenses and didn’t know when they would get another shipment.

In fact, on the Web site, Yucatan Fire is out of stock, but the seller promises more within a week.

Though it did not give the ingredients of Yucatan Fire, the Web site said the incense has a “unique and uplifting aroma and is blended by an experienced herbal shaman.”

Spice Gold is described on the Web site as providing an “uplifting feeling — stimulating yet soothing —surprisingly effective.”

The ingredients of Spice Gold are listed on the site as Baybean, blue lotus, lion’s tail, lousewort, Indian warrior, dwarf scullcap, maconha brava, pink lotus, marshmallow, red clover, rose, Siberian motherwort, vanilla and honey.

The Web site has a disclaimer that it will not sell these two products to anyone under the age of 18. In fact, to enter the site, a user must click on a link saying they are over 18 years of age. Foltz said the local shop clerks told him they will only sell Spice Gold and Yucatan Fire to people over 18 who have the proper identification.

The packaging of Spice Gold is gold in color with a picture of a black eye. Yucatan Fire packaging is bright red with a green leaf design.

Drennan said there are no laws against selling the incense at this time, but said he is looking into legal solutions.

“I will check with lawmakers about putting legislation through about making them illegal, if possible,” Drennan said.

The Web site has a phone number located in Florida.

St. Tammany News called the number, but the person who answered the phone would not identify himself and refused to answer any questions.

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Comments

9 comment(s)

Dennis wrote on Nov 13, 2009 5:24 PM:

" Everything that the police dont like or understand, they do their best to make it illegal. Honestly, people should have the right to do whatever they want with their own bodies, as long as it doesn't harm anyone else. "

saundra wright wrote on Oct 8, 2009 7:09 PM:

" police just leave people alone! "

James wrote on Aug 26, 2009 6:27 PM:

" People die each and everyday from alcohol, I was able to join the military at the age of 17 years old, but could'nt purchase a drink until the age of 21. If kids want to get "high" they're going to do it whether proper parenting takes place or not. Marijuana and simlar products are illegal and are considered a gateway drug which makes kids think if this "drug" is ok maybe others are as well. Marijuana is as bad for you as any cigarette product out there if it is legal why isnt weed. GET OVER IT "

Rick James wrote on Dec 19, 2008 11:58 AM:

" Spice is sold as a legal herb-based alternative to cannabis. Though the ingredients list does not identify any cannabinoid constituents, it very likely contains a synthetic cannabinoid because it is unlikely that the listed plant ingredients would produce its reported effects. On Dec 15, 2008, the city of Frankfurt, Germany, announced the results of analysis they sponsored and reported that the Spice product they tested contained JWH-018. A synthetic cannibinoid more potent than THC "

Anon wrote on Dec 17, 2008 12:36 PM:

" I agree with everyone else too. I think that maybe they should start doing tests on spice to see if it really is harmful. I think its really crazy to have alcohol legal and it causes deaths everyday from someone drinking be driving and people not knowing how to stop drinking and it causes liver problems. So why are things that cause you to die legal but weed that is now used as a medicine illegal? I'm not sure the government makes much sense "

R. SIDE wrote on Dec 17, 2008 10:54 AM:

" We don't know what the effects of smoking incense are. It could be as harmful as sniffing paint, or gas, we don't know. What if it causes birth defects, or serious brain disorders. The correct solution to this problem it for our government to develop a method to determine the level of intoxication of marijuana so we can ticket high drivers, then legalize pot, tax it high, and use the tax dollars to subsidize our schools, fuel, and the so called war on drugs. "

bob wrote on Dec 17, 2008 4:47 AM:

" When is the lawmakers/public going to realize making all things illegal is not the solution to every problem. These are incense & are "not intended for human consumption..

This is just another way for the parents to avoid any real parental responsibility.

If the kids were not 18 years of age they or their parents should be eld responisible not the rest of the public, Im sure they are not gunning to outlaw alcohol even though across the United States 100 youths were caught drinking beer/liquor last friday night ??? "

someone else wrote on Dec 16, 2008 5:25 PM:

" First line says it is harmful to humans.......who ever said it was harmful? Its just a bunch of herbs. It is less harmful than cigarette tobacco, which is legal to people 18 and older. You have to be at least 18 to buy this stuff....so I dont see a difference. "

Anon wrote on Dec 16, 2008 2:44 PM:

" Ok so isn't the reason they don't legalize weed because they can't tax it? Well here is something you can tax and get a good bit of money from. This is just like any other legal drug such as alcohol or tabacco. Why try to make it illegal why not just raise the age for buying it and enforce the age limit i think that sounds like a better idea. I don't smoke the stuff but this just sounds crazy to try to and ban something that hasn't done any harm "

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