Madison NORML

GM Today, an online site for the Waukesha Freeman and other papers, reported today that the man arrested for running a pot store inside a candle store in downtown Waukesha click here, was found with "...salvia divinorum, a substance deemed illegal earlier this year in Wisconsin, the search warrant indicated." One small problem though, the ban did not pass. The state legislature website’s history of the bill, AB 277, concludes with, “03-21-08. A. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1”.

It’s pretty strange to see law enforcement eager to enforce laws that haven’t even been passed. Meanwhile County officials recently stated that if state DUI penalties were increased, it would create the need for at least 3 new courtrooms, additional jail space and other huge expenditures. How much would a salvia ban cost and why the rush to criminalize a substance much less harmful and toxic than alcohol or tobacco?

Source: GM Today click here

Waukesha store owner charged with selling pot

Undercover cop allegedly made three drug deals at Candles For You

By BRIAN HUBER - GM Today Staff

June 24, 2008

Photo caption: A sign taped to the front door of Candles For You, 744 N. Grand Ave., declares that the store is closed Monday due to a "drugs delivery." A search warrant indicates that marijuana was found in the shop.

WAUKESHA -

A Waukesha store owner has been charged with selling marijuana out of his downtown candle shop.

James Juhay, 46, was ordered held on a $10,000 cash bond Monday after being charged with three counts of delivering marijuana, a count of possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute it, three counts of felony bail jumping and maintaining a drug place. If convicted, he faces up to 38 years in custody.

According to Waukesha police, a criminal complaint and other court records, Juhay was the target of an undercover investigation after police received tips he was selling pot at his Candles For You store, 744 N. Grand Ave. On June 5, an undercover officer went into the store, where Juhay told him, "I got bud for sale," an affidavit said.

The officer bought $20 worth of pot that day, and returned June 11 and June 17 for more transactions, worth $20 and $25, the affidavit said.

Police searched the store Thursday and found more than one pound of marijuana in a safe and other locations, as well as plastic bags with drug residue, drug paraphernalia, suspected hashish - though it did not test positive for the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient of marijuana - and salvia divinorum, a substance deemed illegal earlier this year in Wisconsin, the search warrant indicated. It added police found what was believed - but not proven to be - ecstasy residue.

(snip)