What a great day for Genesee County
Photo: Workers clear out former 420 Emporium location
Submitted by Howard Owens on August 30, 2012 - 12:33am
A group of at least five men showed up at 400 Ellicott St., Batavia, Wednesday evening to box up the inventory and remove the fixtures of the former location of The 420 Emporium.
The 420 was suspected of selling synthetic marijuana and synthetic amphetamines from the time it opened in Batavia in May.
The store was raided by the DEA on July 25 and its apparent local owner, Joshua Denise, was arrested. The store never reopened after the raid, though its shelves remained stocked -- until Wednesday night -- with glass pipes, bongs, rolling papers and other retail items.
For our prior coverage of The 420 Emporium, click here.
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August 30, 2012 - 2:33am
#3
August 30, 2012 - 4:15am
#4
Funny how they wait til after dark to do these things. Almost like they are ashamed to do it in broad daylight. Glad these kowlives have moved out and away. Just goes to show sometimes all it takes is a few people to give a damn in a communty. Especially seeing as how all the other 420's have reopened. Heres to hoping they get raided again.
August 30, 2012 - 3:37pm
#5
Its too bad they can't get rid of the drug dealers that fast, but then again, dealers of illicit drugs don't open shop in the middle of town.
Salts and spice may not be for sale in Batavia, but it is still on the market in the cities, and finding its way into Batavia at a much higher price, so three cheers for nothing.
Maybe the co owner of 420 finally heeded the advice I gave him back in late May, I told him his business would not survive in Batavia.
August 30, 2012 - 4:36pm
#6
I beg to differ with your "three cheers to nothing." I know that it's been reported that police calls for bath salts related incidents have decreased dramatically since this placed was closed down.
August 30, 2012 - 4:25pm
#7
Not only have we received statistical validation of fewer "bath salt" related calls since July 25, I can discern from my own regular monitoring of scanner calls, the crazy level has dropped considerably.
Yes, synthetic drugs of all sorts are still available and undoubtedly still in Genesee County, but there was an important shift in the frequency of incidents starting in July.
It's probably a combination of factors, but the apparent and alleged ease of availability was a contributing factor.
August 30, 2012 - 5:36pm
#8
I agree with you Howard, things have really quited down, but lets not fool ourselves into thinking the problem is solved, or letting down our guard.
Beth, it is my opinion, the whole DEA raid was nothing more than political grandstanding in an election year, thus, 3 cheers for nothing.
These shops were easy targets, they weren't trying to hide what they were doing. After 40 years of the war on drugs, there is no change in the availability of illegal drugs in our area, or for that matter, all over the country. Just saying...
August 30, 2012 - 5:52pm
#9
As you know, I'm not a supporter of the war on drugs, but this was a completely different kind of problem.
August 30, 2012 - 9:05pm
#10
REALLY????? how is it different????Not a supporter of war on drugs??? which should be allowed??
August 30, 2012 - 9:10pm
#11
what a shame.another business closed....batavia really does need the tax money..
makes me sad to see someone's hard work fail.
August 30, 2012 - 9:25pm
#12
Paul, I agree with you on this. Howard, how is this different? Both are drugs so, where is the difference? Howard the plain and simple truth is there is no difference, other than some drugs are man made and others are naturally grown. Not to mention 420 sold them legally until public awareness was increased and the dangers exposed.
August 30, 2012 - 9:42pm
#13
Oh Howard, once again the public voice was heard by their local and state government officials and synthetic marijuana/synthetic amphetamines became illegal to sell in New York. So, I know you opposed the "War on Drugs." So, how is it that you are not a supporter of the war on drugs and be happy about these drugs begin banned from public sale? These are not the first man made drugs nor the last. Oh, I know it is different when it hits close to home.
BTW, goodbye 420, hit the road jack and never come back........ Hopefully, Batavia Commerce will be more aware of the businesses they allow in their city in the future.
August 30, 2012 - 9:57pm
#14
Seems to me that all of the bars, corner stores, and grocery stores that sell alcohol or tobacco products may have an even greater impact on the quality of life around here. I'm not saying they should be shut down, or that the 420 should be able to be open, but what makes this apples and oranges instead of a lot of varieties of apples?
August 30, 2012 - 10:32pm
#15
Hello James, I like that, Varieties of Apples." That is good. Some apples are sweet, some are sour, some are hard, some are soft, some are green, some are red, some are yellow, some a mixture of colors, some are better eating from the tree, some are better baked. People may like golden apples but, not sour granny apples.
Is any drug safe? Well there are those which have health benefits and those which do not. The ones that do not are usually looked at negatively. Marijuana is questionable because, there are health benefits to it but, people view it as bad.
Cigarettes and Alcohol are legal. Though I will never understand why people like sucking in smoke. I do like my beer but, moderation is the name of the game.
September 1, 2012 - 8:10am
#16
It's different because of
A) the perception during the time that this stuff was legal had people more willing to experiment. "It's legal because it must be safe."
B) It's different because this stuff was being marketed as something other than it was to deceive people.
C) It's different because unlike drugs with a more established pedigree, these were chemicals that were untested and unknown. Many of the problems associated with these drugs were likely because users didn't know how to dose themselves, plus the inconsistencies of manufacture would change dosage levels.
D) The long-term effects of these drugs, as opposed to the more known effects of plant-based drugs, in particular, are simply unknown. Synthetic drugs that have been around longer, such as China White, are known to have significant, unpleasant and long-lasting effects.
E) While the effects and consequences of use and abuse of plant-based drugs vary and are known, and abuse is certainly a problem, the fact that they are known and predictable is a far cry from the unpredictable nature of synthetic drugs.
F) Even after the changed legality of synthetic drugs, they are still available online and without vigilance, unscrupulous dealers might still try to bring them into the community. Since the nature of trafficking isn't quite as underground as it is for other illicit drugs, this is an important factor in use and abuse. Ease of access is an important difference for synthetic drugs.
G) Because there are far more chemicals that can be used to manufacture synthetic drugs and the fact that new ones can be invented, meaning more so-called "legal highs," and because of the inherent danger of consuming untested chemicals, the entire synthetic drug trade poses a significant and, by its nature, very different threat to public health and safety than known illicit drugs.
Of course, anybody who has read my coverage of this issue over the past few months would already know all of this.
September 1, 2012 - 11:01am
#17
Howard, I had thought after the raids on the rez shops, it was determined the stuff was illegal, how did it resurface as a legal product, was it due to changes in chemistry?
That could have been another factor in the beleif that it was safe to use.
Another problem I have seen is the misuse of DMX, commonly found in over the counter cough and cold meds. Users
have taken up to 50x the recommended dosage, so that tends to shoot down safety concerns by the users. Any idiot should know better than to ingest up to 2 packs of cough medicine in any 24 hour duration.
September 1, 2012 - 1:06pm
#18
Frank, the raids on the rez were in February.
On July 9, a wide range of chemical compounds were added to the controlled substances list.
Manufacturers continued to make, and continue to make, drugs that they believe are not listed as controlled substances.
Of course, it's still illegal, as it has been all along, to sell substances that are analogs to controlled substances.
In fact, a large part of the justification for the warrants against the 420 locations was based on the analog law, not the controlled substances act.
As far as we know at this point, the substances allegedly seized in the 420 raids include synthetic cannabinoids, which may nor may not be covered by the controlled substances act, but could possibly be considered analogs, and so-called "bath salts" that contain compounds that are analogs to controlled substances. Check my previous stories for the names of the chemicals involved.
September 1, 2012 - 8:47pm
#19
So...... (1) I DO not follow your coverage of most...due to the fact of your hidden agenda of most facts.
(2) After your ranting of a) b) c) etc I must conclude that you find certain illegal drugs by virtue of law to be alright to be used without consequence of prosecution ?
Howard : If your response will include any further rhetoric of unfounded information,,,,,don't insult me and embarass yourself.
This is just one more example of the fluff that you and this site provides. I am begging you......PLEASE provide more substantive and credible in-depth reporting of the facts without bias and agendas of others and you.
We have our fill of the Buffalo News, Batavia News and Democrat and Chronicle.
We truly will respect you more!
September 1, 2012 - 9:41pm
#20
Nobody has provided more factual reporting on this topic than The Batavian.
And yes, I support legalizing certain drugs and regulating others. That should be no surprise to any regular reader of the site.
My comment above is completely factual and would only be embarrassing to people who wish to avoid truth.
September 1, 2012 - 10:09pm
#21
What is this hidden agenda, Paul? I have seen you write this at other times and am curious. I mean since you enjoy throwing mud, I would love to know the nature of it.
September 1, 2012 - 10:21pm
#22
From what I have seen Howard goes to great lengths to report on facts first, and as many as he can find. On this issue in particular, Howard far and away exceeded the standards of factual reporting.
That said, from what I have seen when Howard has an agenda he post his thoughts as a comment, NOT as part of the story. And that is perfectly reasonable and well within any journalistic guideline I have ever seen. When Howard states an opinion, he has always to my knowledge clearly stated that it was an opinion not a fact.
To ever say Howard has a HIDDEN AGENDA is in my opinion bizarre,
September 1, 2012 - 10:38pm
#23
Paul what exactly is the hidden agenda in facts..... Facts are facts, nothing more, nothing less. Your attempt to discredit Howard once again is a big fail. You seem unable to make the distinction between actual news reports, and the forum entries. I am not sure who this 'we' is that you refer to that will respect Howard more if he does things your way.... but you can be sure that you arent speaking for me or alot of others. So please unless you have mpd stop referring to any 'we' and speak only for yourself. To imply that you speak for others is disingenous at best and shows really how credible you are.
September 2, 2012 - 12:50pm
#24
Paul, Howard's reporting on this subject has been informative, and right in line with what many other sites have reported on this subject. Could you please elaborate on what fluff, rhetoric, or unfounded information has come from this site by Howard, or for that matter, anyone who posts here.
September 2, 2012 - 8:56am
#25
Paul,
I'm with Phil on this. What hidden agenda? If you can't give an example, the maybe you are the one with the "agenda"
September 2, 2012 - 10:18pm
#26
Howard if, we made LSD, Crack, etc...... Legal would not that give the same impression? If it is legal it must be safe. A is denied.
A lot of pedigree drugs are sold under false conclusions. They will tell you it is to relax your mind but, fail to tell you it causes massive anxiety. B is denied.
There are drugs out there already that doctors and scientists really do not understand. Really everyone knows how to dose themselves? That is not totally accurate either. Otherwise we would not have overdose deaths. C is denied.
Howard I can go on but, every line can have almost the same argument for know drugs.
Drug is a drug is a drug. Why do we see people still oppose alcohol and cigarettes? Even though the effects are not as severe as others, people are still concern.
September 3, 2012 - 12:03am
#27
John, if we made decriminalized drugs, they could be regulated and use the revenue to deal with addiction and abuse. It works in Portugal.
I don't know where you get "A lot of pedigree drugs are sold under false conclusions." That's not even something worth responding to.
"There are drugs out there already that doctors and scientists really do not understand. "
Ditto.
Really everyone knows how to dose themselves?
Of course not, and there are reasons experienced users OD that have nothing to do with knowledge.
If you don't get that the synthetic trade is something totally different than what has gone before, I can't help you. I also can't help you see the sky is blue if you don't want to believe it. We just went through a period were we saw quite clearly as a community just how different they can be.
September 3, 2012 - 9:31am
#28
John, just for the record, deaths from alcohol and tobacco are as severe as you can get. In the last 3 years I have seen 2 men in their late 40's die from alcoholism. I have yet to see any deaths in this area associated with synthetic drug use.
John, educate yourself prior to making such nonsensical claims.
Read the information provided with many prescription drugs, the potential side effects, some can be fatal even when taken as prescribed, and approved by the FDA.
The whole argument about safety is somewhat ridiculous, when killer heroin hits the streets, so do the junkies. When a user ingests 2 packages of cough medicine, the user knows the recommended dosage has been exceded tenfold.
Most of the users of synthetics were experienced drug abusers, like Howard said, the synthetics were easily obtainable.
My greatest fear in all of this is that terrorists someday may introduce a "killer" synthetic, and from what we have seen, it could potentially kill thousands of users.
September 3, 2012 - 9:21pm
#29
Hello Frank, just because, you have not seen any deaths involving synthetic drugs does not mean it does not happen. Here is a example from 20101221 at approximately 22:45 hours in Kansas. MR Elijah Taylor had smoked synthetic marijuana known at the time as K2. Layed down on the highway and while a car swerved to miss him. He ran at them and was killed in the process.
Also, I have known people who died from known drug overdose locally. BTW, Genesee County is not the only place in the world that suffers from this. Marijuana is easily obtainable otherwise, we would not have all these arrest at Darien Lake. Terrorist will use more than a drug source to poison America. Your greatest fear should not be terrorist at this point and time but, another business moving in with some other synthetic drug that has recently been discovered.
Let's not forget about the druglords moving in threw our southern and northern borders. Terrorists are teaming up with these groups as well. That is why I am for a stronger and more control border.
All I am stating is whether is synthetic or natural drug they are still dangerous. Just like if you violate a traffic law or a civil law, you violated a LAW. Yes, they carry different penalties and some are more severe than others but, it does not take from the fact you violated a law. Apples and Oranges are still both fruits.
September 3, 2012 - 9:23pm
#30
BTW, Frank be more worry about our schools.
September 4, 2012 - 5:33am
#31
John, I was using the alcohol deaths as a point, alcohol will kill and maim more people than any other drugs combined. To say the effects of alcohol are less severe than other drugs is ridiculous, I'm talking about abuse.
Another point, if it takes the DEA 5-6 months to put together a raid on the synthetic industry, a lot of people would be dead before they were shut down, if terrorist infiltrated the distribution of synthetic drug markets.
John, one death from synthetic pot, makes for a weak argument, look at the number of alcohol related deaths
nationwide on any given weekend.I can guarantee more emergency room visits are alcohol related than all other drugs combined.
Here's a hypothetical scenario, lets say alcohol was an unknown drug, and suddenly it shows up in your town, if folks had never seen the effect alcohol abuse has on people, we would be shocked to see people staggering around, talking to themselves, driving and crashing vehicles, and all the other baggage that comes with alcohol abuse.
It would look exactly like Batavia did in June and July of this year with all of the salts abuse.
I would love to see the numbers from all ER's nationwide as to the number of visits generated by alcohol - vs -
synthetic drugs. Without having those numbers, I would be willing to bet alcohol more than doubled synthetics, yet no one is up in arms over that, just doesn't make sense to me.
Thank God that this pox on Society has been removed from our presence..