By PETER HUSSMANN
A high-profile Des Moines attorney made his appearance on behalf of the two Jasper County convenience store operators targeted in an undercover drug operation for selling synthetic marijuana.
Alfredo Parrish made his appearance in Jasper County District Court on Tuesday on behalf of Jawant Singh, operator of the Petro Stop in Newton, and Jarnail Manhani, operator of the Kellogg Country Store.
Both men were charged with several counts of delivery and/or possession with intent to deliver a synthetic cannabinoid after undercover agents with the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement drug task force made purchases of packages of products marketed as incense and potpourri, along with smoking paraphernalia, at the two stores over the past several months.
Last week, the drug task force executed search warrants at the two stores where an abundance of the products were found.
Last year, the Iowa State Legislature and Gov. Branstad signed into law a measure banning certain synthetic marijuana products. However, sale of similar products remain prevelant throughout the state.
The problem, as this report from the Cedar Rapids Gazette last month spells out, is that manufacturers have changed the chemicals used in the production of the product so that they do not include the specific chemicals banned under the state law.
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