Could Flesh-Eating Drug 'Krokodil' Become Popular in US?

Image credit: fritscdejong on Flickr, via io9.com

October 21, 2013 - Krokodil is a deadly, nightmarish synthetic heroine. It may be just hitting the United States after becoming popular in Russia about three years ago. The effects of Krokodil are hellish: Gangrene, rotting flesh, green scaly skin, and death are just some symptoms of use.

"While methamphetamine and heroin are guaranteed to give you a slow, painful death, if you want to speed up the process, take this drug," said DEA supervisory agent Sue Thomas, as quoted by Deseret News on October 6. "If you just want to speed up and horrify the death process a little more, take this drug. It will rot you from the inside out, leaving you with gaping wounds that will leave bones exposed, horrible abscesses and it's a horrific death," she said. The same Deseret News article noted that "Recently, two cases of people using Krokodil were confirmed in Arizona. Thomas said that's concerning to Utah DEA agents." (My emphasis added.)

Even so, writer Adam Taylor says that Krokodil will not sweep America. He said so in an October 21 article in Business Insider, titled "Why Russia's Flesh-Eating Drug 'Krokodil' Won't Sweep Through America." Taylor even seems to doubt that Krokodil is in the U.S., referring to "alleged U.S. cases." Note, however, that DEA's agent Thomas acknowledged the presence of Krokodil in two confirmed cases in Arizona. Note also that on October 9 Business Insider ran an article by Michael Kelley titled "Russia's Terrifying Form Of 'Homemade Heroin' Seems To Be Spreading Across The US."

"The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has released a statement for the public to be aware of Krokodil, a drug allegedly from Russia," reported International Business Times on October 14. "Jack Riley, special agent-in-charge of DEA Chicago Field Division, said the agency was 'very concerned' about the news of patients being treated at Presence St Joseph Medical Center."

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor seems to be at odds with reality, the media and the DEA in saying that Krokodil cannot become popular ("sweep") in America. In fact, he's at odds with himself. Taylor based his October 21 argument largely on the fact that codeine, a key ingredient of Krokodil "is easy to obtain in Russia" but "In America, it isn't."

Taylor contradicts himself: On September 26, Business Insider published his article titled "Russia's Horrifying Flesh-Eating Drug 'Krokodil' Reportedly Spreads Into The United States." In that piece, Taylor wrote that "the U.S. now had its first two recorded cases of the use of Desomorphine, also known as 'krokodil.' The drug is made using readily available codeine...." (Emphasis added.)

Cops Find Huge Weapons Cache and Drugs in Long Island Home

Marc Ringel mugshot: NCPD

Marc Ringel (NCPD)

March 7, 2012 - Police found a very large number of weapons and bomb-making ingredients in a man's home in Woodmere, Long Island, New York on Tuesday afternoon.

Nassau County police arrested 53-year-old Marc Ringel and were stunned by what they found in his home.

The initial reason for going to Ringel's home had nothing to do with why they ended up arresting him: They went there in response to a silent alarm. Officials say that Ringel had enough explosive material to level and entire city block.

"The incident," reports Newsday, "which began when Fourth Precinct police officers responded to a panic alarm set off by Ringel Tuesday afternoon, turned into an evacuation of the area after those officers found a handgun and two hand grenades inside the residence. Police said that came after officers detected 'the strong smell' of marijuana emanating from the house."

CBS Local New York quotes Police Chief Steven Skrynecki as saying that a search of Ringel's home turned up "15 destructive devices, specifically pipe bombs. Fifteen improvised grenades, approximately 100 handguns, 20 long guns, approximately 50 pounds of ingredients that could be used to make explosives,” and “There was enough explosive material in there to level that house and possibly the entire block.”

Curiously, few reports mention that the FBI and ATF were involved in this arrest. A blog called Private Investigations posted yesterday that "the FBI responded to a home on Long Island with a bomb disposal unit. Police responded to alarm at the home on Narrow Lane in Woodmere at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. When police arrived a man was in driveway. Police asked him for ID. He showed them a credit card. They said that wasn't correct ID. "

Private Investigations (PI) also says that Ringel then went into his house, and when he opened the front door "police got overwhelming smell of pot. Police opened up the door and saw tons of pot plants. They also spotted a handgun and two grenades."

PI quotes one of Ringel's neighbors as saying that he "looked like he could have been on drugs or drunk.” Another friend of Ringel "called Ringel a good man caught in a bad circumstance."

Commentary: Sure, we all get caught up in bad circumstances now and then. I mean, who doesn't occasionally find his home packe with marijuana plants, bomb-making materials, grenades and a carload of guns?

Related articles

• Arsenal of Weapons, Explosives Found at NY Home (abcnews.go.com)
• Cops Believe the Long Island Killer Is Just One Person Again (theatlanticwire.com)

JAMAICA IN CRISIS, "AT WAR WITH ITSELF" (UPDATE 4)

Kingston, Jamaica - Jamaica's capital continues to be a war zone, as more than 1,000 police and soldiers "assaulted a public housing complex occupied by heavily armed gangsters defending an alleged drug lord wanted by the U.S., waging a major offensive in the heart of West Kingston's ramshackle slums." (Associated Press) The man they are after is Christopher "Dudus" Coke (photo). Update: Siege in Kingston now "quieter," but continues. Could flare up again any moment... BBC video report (updated at 2:08 GMT, Wednesday, 26 May 2010 3:08 UK) In another report, by AFP, hospital sources "said they saw more than 60 bodies, although police put the death toll at 27. But Prime Minister Bruce Golding warned the figures would likely rise, and police late Tuesday reported several murders." Gunshots and large explosions can be seen and heard in the capitol city, and the violence is said to be spreading. The Kingston airport was closed intermittently yesterday and is reportedly closed again today. (Press TV) Some excellent video reports to bring to your attention: The first, by CNN, posted today at 9:36 a.m. EDT. The others are posted at Jamaica News Network (JNN) Nightly News (via RadioJamaica). JNN has a series of reports posted, allowing you to see the history of this story as it developed. The Jamaica Gleaner reports this morning that "The armed forces yesterday strongly repelled the relentless firepower of gunmen, allegedly from Fletcher's Land, who launched an assault on the Central Police Station in Jamaica's capital, Kingston.... The gunmen, apparently emboldened by the attacks on six police stations a day earlier, turned their venom on the Central Police Station. But alert crime fighters hit back with a vengeance, resulting in a fierce gun battle around the headquarters of Kingston CIB. A day earlier, the Hannah Town Police Station was attacked, pillaged and burnt. So too were the Fletcher's Land, Darling Street and Denham Town stations in western Kingston. The Spanish Town and Cross Roads stations were also fired on." The Jamaica Observer gives a chilling reports that "criminal gangs aligned to the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) in the Maxfield Avenue area of Whitfield Town are being paid up to $100,000 per day to join in the.... resistance to the security forces' attempt to arrest Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke." This has frightening implications: If Coke can hire more criminals, and if the anti-government sentiment is flamed, this bad situation could become much worse. AFP reports that his supporters say Coke "is a local hero for helping residents pay bills, and even send children to school. Coke himself says he is merely a businessman. His supporters have stockpiled arms, attacked police and set up barricades around Tivoli Gardens, which is also the parliamentary district of Prime Minister Bruce Golding." The U.S. Dept. of State has warned Jamaican officials that "The possibility exists that unrest could spread beyond the general Kingston area." The State Dept. also warns travelers to avoid Kingston and surrounding areas. Jamaica's Ministry of National Security issued a statement on May 24: This Joint Military/Police operation is aimed at executing a warrant issued by the Courts of Jamaica for the arrest of Michael Christopher Coke otherwise called "Dudus" as well as to restore the area to stability after three consecutive days of barricading by criminal elements and wanton attacks on the police force. Full Statement... MiamiNewTimes reports that Dudus "has turned a Kingston slum into his own personal bunker to avoid extradition to the U.S, has forced his country into a state of emergency. To local law-enforcement officials, the situation appears all too familiar. Coke's ultra-violent cartel, called 'The Shower Posse' for its members tendency to indiscriminately shower enemies and bystanders alike, seized South Florida in the late-'80s."

Big Marijuana Website Links to Chicago News Bench

Yesterday, Marathon Pundit received an email from a major Canadian marijuana website. It was actually intended for me, but was sent to the wrong address. MP kindly forwarded my way. Turns out it's a form letter sent to other websites, but I thought we'd have some fun with it. First, the email from doper "Mark Thompson," then my reply. From: Mark Thompson [rollitup.org] Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 06:15:20 -0700 To: [Marathon Pundit] Subject: Your Marijuana Site Hello, Recently I visited your website http://rogersparkbench.blogspot.com;while visiting your site I noticed that you link to http://www.nationalreview.com at this address: http://rogersparkbench.blogspot.com/. As we are closely related to them, I would love to exchange links with your website, currently there are about 5,000 - 7,000 people per day that goto my site and search for information, Therefore I would to link to an excellent site like yours. I have taken the liberty of adding your site to my home page: http://www.rollitup.org to determine if it is of any benefit to you, if you have a stats program you can check it and let me know. By looking at my stats, it looks like today I have sent you 10 visitors but it may change by the time you receive this email. Some website owners do not like when other sites link to them so I thought I might ask first. I think the information on your website could be useful to my visitors; and maybe you could receive some extra relevant traffic if you want. Please get back to me when you have a chance to let me know if its ok to link to your website like this. Have a good week, Mark Thompson email: mark.thompson@rollitup.org website: http://www.rollitup.org This email was sent to [Marathon Pundit], by mark.thompson@rollitup.org 136 Hidden Crescent Green - Calgary - Alberta - Canada --- MY REPLY --- Dear Mr. Thompson, Your marijuana activities seem to have affected your ability to think clearly. For some bizarre reason, you seem to think that linking to my conservative blog makes sense on your dope promoting Canadian website, "rollitup," "the marijuana source." By the way, you sent your note, intended for me apparently, to another blogger. Fortunately, that blogger, Marathon Pundit, forwarded it to me. I am grateful for that, as it provided me with many hearty chuckles and an amusing post. (Marathon Pundit is a conservative blog, too, so it's doubly mysterious why you would send such a note to either of us.) In your dope-addled mind, you seem to believe that your marijuana website is "closely related" to the conservative National Review. You couldn't be more wrong, Mr. Thompson. I doubt very much that they are in any way connected to, or approve of, your stoner website. Your drug-induced confusion gets progressively worse as your note continues. In your second paragraph, you state that you have already added my site to your home page (http://www.rollitup.org). Yet, your third paragraph begins with "Some website owners do not like when other sites link to them so I thought I might ask first." Huh? You already took the liberty to add my link, but you thought you'd ask first? Really, Mr. Thompson, how much dope did you smoke prior to writing your confused note to me at an incorrect email address? For some reason, you felt it necessary to explain your linkage to "Rogersparkbench." Note that the correct name is "Chicago News Bench." You stated you added a link to my site "to determine if it is of any benefit" to me. The answer to that ("duh, yes") is obvious to anybody not sucking a bong. One wonders why you would care about my stats. You go on to say, "if you have a stats program you can check it and let me know. By looking at my stats, it looks like today I have sent you 10 visitors but it may change by the time you receive this email." Uh, yah, I do have a stats program and it shows that you sent me zero visitors on March 14 and none so far today. You may need a new stats program, sir. Or, perhaps, you need to stop smoking so much dope that you cannot read your own stats correctly. You end your intoxicated email with "Please get back to me when you have a chance to let me know if its ok to link to your website like this." Well, sure, Mr. Thompson, it's okay. I'll take hits where I can get them, but as I noted above, you've already linked to me, just above "Hydroponics," "BC Marijuana Party" and "NORML." I personally find your website to be disgusting. Don't take that personally, but do know that I will not link to your semicomatose website, Mr. Thompson. I urge you get help. Just say no, Tom RELATED: ~ Yikes! ~ UP IN SMOKE? It's Up To Me To Stay Drug Free Rollitup.org Blows http://www.nabble.com/Your-Marijuana-Site-td22512754.html#a22512754 Chicago News Bench RSS Feed Cool Stuff...

Sumo Wrestlers on Dope

You thought Michael Phelps sucking on a bong was scandalous? It's nothing compared to the sumo drug scandal in Japan: In the past six months, four wrestlers have been kicked out of the ancient sport for allegedly smoking marijuana, creating the biggest drugs-in-sports scandal that Japan has ever seen. More from AP... Sumo is an ancient sport, possibly 3,000 years old. According to essortment.com, "The earliest written mention of Sumo is found in the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters), a book from the year 712, which is the oldest example of Japanese writing. The Kojiki relates a legend about how possession of the Japanese islands was determined by a Sumo match 2,500 years ago between the gods Takemikazuchi and Takeminakata." The sumo scandals broke last summer. Business Week wrote about it in September, 2008: It’s hardly the only bad publicity for sumo, lately. Last year, the sport’s training practices came under fire after the head of a sumo stable, or training gym, was arrested for allegedly beating a young wrestler. The 17-year-old wrestler, who had run away from the stable, later died of his injuries. Also last year the sport’s top-ranked wrestler, Asashoryu, was suspended for feigning an injury and playing in a charity soccer match in his home country of Mongolia. More from Business Week... Huge fat guys in loin cloths stoned out of their minds and looking for a fight. Think about that. MORE: Pot scandal jolts Japan’s sumo world - AtlantaHeadlines.com Japan's sumo fans hold on despite scandals - Los Angeles Times Sumo wrestling history, the Ancient Japanese sport Nihon Sumo Kyokai Official Grand Sumo Home Page CNB RSS Feed

LSD, Cocaine Helped Fuel Terror in Mumbai

Cocaine partially fueled the terrorist rampage in Mumbai last week. So reports CBS3 (Philadephia) in an Associated Press story today. MUMBAI, India (AP) ― The gunmen who went on a rampage in Mumbai, India for almost three days had drugs in their system and drug paraphernalia, such as syringes, were recovered from the scene of the assaults, according to British paper the Telegraph: The killers were doing more than cocaine: "We found injections containing traces of cocaine and LSD left behind by the terrorists and later found drugs in their blood," an official told the Telegraph. The official also noted that "There was also evidence of steroids, which isn't uncommon in terrorists." More at CBS-13... RELATED: Mumbai attacks: Jews tortured before executed during hostage crisis India demands Pakistan turn over 20 fugitives US official: India attack may have Pakistani roots India was warned of Mumbai attack, US officials say

Illegal Aliens Harming U.S. Forests

They only come here to work, right? Well, some of that "work" is illegal, dangerous and destroying our beautiful forests and park lands. National forests and parks — long popular with Mexican marijuana-growing cartels — have become home to some of the most polluted pockets of wilderness in America because of the toxic chemicals needed to eke lucrative harvests from rocky mountainsides, federal officials said. FULL STORY from AP at Yahoo! News...

Mexican General: Tijuana Cops Crooked

Don't call the cops if you need help in Tijuana, says a Mexican general. He advises people to call the army instead because, he says, the cops in Tijuana are all on the take. Now the general is in hot water with the Mexican Government: The general's fate reflects larger questions in Mexico about how to control drug-fueled violence, which has soared in the years since President Felipe Calderon moved to openly confront the cartels that move cocaine into the United States. Some Mexicans see the police as corrupt and the army as the only hope, but others fear soldiers are overstepping their authority and abusing their power by raiding the homes of suspected criminals. [LA Times] Perhaps Illinois Governor Blagojevich can send some of our State Troopers down there to help out.

Busch Gardens, Chicago!

Welcome to "Busch Gardens" in Chicago! That's right, here in the Rogers Park neighborhood, you see, we have more than our fair share of drunkards and dope addicts.

They love to hang out in Loyola Park and drink by the "Circle Garden" near the east end of Morse Avenue.

Despite the beautiful tulips planted by the Rogers Park Garden Group, this bad behavior continues. Can we expect the same at the Metra Station on Ravenswood?

UNACCEPTABLE: Bomb Squad Bong-capades in Rogers Park

>>> SEE 4/24/08 FOLLOWUP WITH PHOTOS <<< CHICAGO COPS TIED UP THE STREETS IN A SECTION OF ROGERS PARK FOR NEARLY THREE HOURS FOR --- A BONG. ONCE AGAIN, bloggers prove their worth as ultra-local sources of news. I biked up to the 7300 block of North Damen at 9:45 last night to cover what the police dispatcher was describing as a bomb scare. Other than some other blogger, NO OTHER MEDIA WERE THERE. No television vans, no newspaper reporters in sight. NO ALDERMAN MOORE, NONE OF HIS REPRESENTATIVES WERE THERE to see if people might need help. Unacceptable! I'll have photos and perspective this evening. We need more information about this ridiculous episode of police overreaction, refusal to communicate to affected residents, cops who do not know the meaning of the word "citizen," "illegal" police scanners, the imbecile pot farmer who started this entire comedy of errors, and a close call with drug deal on the way home. A bong they thought was a bomb - initially. But the Watch Commander KNEW it was just a bong by 11:00 p.m., and the police kept people standing on the streets until 12:30 the next morning. In the words of Mayor Daley: This is unacceptable! Seemed as if half the 24th District Cops were there. Bomb and arson was called in, but took over an hour to arrive. Dozens of cops sat around for hours, smoking, joking and chilling while neighbors, stranded outside, got chilly. Residents were worried and told to shut up when they asked for information. Unacceptable!

Clinton Cocaine Capers

The description of this video is, "Discover the story behind Bill and Hillary Clinton and the Mena Arkansas cocaine smuggling operation they ran, while Bill was governor, prior to the presidency." Presented here without comment. Watch it, form your own opinion.

Blago, the Druggo and Rezko

Oh oh. Governor Blagojevich seems to have been hanging with a bad, bad crowd. Star witness Stuart Levine tells court about snorting crystal meth all night long. Is Blago's nose clean? Daylong, drug-fueled parties at the Purple Hotel in Lincolnwood and sometimes in Springfield. Snorting crystal meth and "Special K." Stuart Levine, the star witness at businessman and political fund-raiser Tony Rezko's corruption trial, told jurors Monday the drugs would make him "euphoric" and lower his inhibitions as he partied all night with five other men.... ...The 62-year-old Highland Park businessman has pleaded guilty to corruption and fraud involving state boards. Rezko, 52, of Wilmette, is accused of scheming with Levine to split kickbacks tied to those boards. MORE at Sun-Times... RELATED: Stuart Levine Pleads Guilty - In the 58-page plea deal, Mr. Levine conceded that he conspired with top Blagojevich fund-raiser and adviser Antoin “Tony” Rezko to shake down firms that sought to do business with a state pension fund and an agency that regulates hospital construction.

Rezko Trial: All Day Drug Parties

You thought you'd heard it all? Baby, this is the trial of the century. (AP) — The star witness at political fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko's corruption trial confessed Monday that he had all-day drug parties with male companions at a suburban spot known as the "the purple hotel," among other locations. Stuart P. Levine testified that he would pay $1,000 to snort both crystal methamphetamine and kaetamine, also known as Special K, drugs that made him feel "euphoric" and lowered inhibitions. FULL BLOW...

Of Bong Shops and Liquor Stores

Rogers Park already has a serious problem with illegal drugs. Street sales are still brisk in this Chicago neighborhood, along the shore of Lake Michigan. You can get your pot, weed, meth, crack, coke, and other stuff easily.

What has not been easy to obtain until now is the paraphernalia to go along with it.

Until now. Rogers Park just got a shiny new bong shop. Windy City Glass offers "glass pipes, water pipes and tabacco [sic] accessories" for the discerning stoner.

Will there be a ribbon cutting ceremony for one of Rogers Park's newest businesses? Will DevCorp North and Alderman Joe Moore (49th Ward) come around to welcome this new business?

The bong store is conveniently located at N. Sheridan and W. Pratt, just two blocks north of the Loyola CTA Red Line station, and right behind a CTA bus stop.

Neighbors in the Pratt Beach Apartments must be thrilled to know that they need only go downstairs to get a new bong. Sitting on the patio of Panini Panini coffee shop next door suddenly feels a bit more like cafe society Amsterdam style.

This is easy to laugh at, but it's actually not very funny. An excellent report by Tasneem Nomanbhai at Chi-Town Daily News highlights the drug and related gang activity problems here in Rogers Park (highlighting and emphasis are added):

Drug and gang activity continue to frustrate residents of the Rogers Park beat 2422. At Thursday's regular CAPS meeting, Officer Michael Riordan told residents that patrol officers on the beat are targeting the problem areas, particularly near Howard and Clark streets and in the area of the nearby shopping mall.

Crime statistics for the beat this month show 15 narcotics arrests, 14 trespassing arrests, 5 arrests related to property damage, 8 arrests for retail theft, 6 arrests for thefts from buildings, four arrest for assault, 10 arrests for battery, 10 domestic battery arrests and 4 arrests for possession of drug paraphernalia. Full article here...

Alderman Moore had to sign off on the Windy City Glass business license. He cannot say he is unaware of it. (However, a few days ago he stopped into Grill Inn, a beautiful new sandwich shop on Morse Avenue that opened five months ago. He was overheard to ask an employee, "How long have you been open?")

Moore already has a public relations problem with liquor stores in the ward. After more than 16 years as the ward's alderman, Moore is strong arming Soo Liquors on Morse Avenue to restrict or prohibit the sale of malt liquors, cheap wines and small cigars. The cigars are often converted to "blunts," hollowed out and stuffed with marijuana. Moore has been publicly embarrassed by his cozy relationship to another liquor store, El Mexicano, on Clark Street. The owner of El Mexicano got a pass on his promise to obey a moratorium similar to what is now being imposed on Soo Liquors, and it was discovered that the owner contributed $1,000 to Moore's 2007 reelection campaign.

Alderman Moore, then, has an interesting challenge: While telling - virtually ordering - liquor stores such as Soo Liquors that they must not sell malt liquor, he allows a drug paraphernalia store, a bong shop, to open on a highly visible corner underneath an apartment building. Perhaps, five months from now, Moore will stop in to check out the merchandise and ask them how long they have been open. In the meantime, Mr. Moore is so busy campaigning for Barack Obama outside of Illinois that he has not had the time - or desire - to pay attention to the important matters here in his own ward. Perhaps Mr. Moore will tend to this after the November election. Perhaps not.

RELATED:
Drugs and Gang Activity Frustrate Rogers Park Residents
A Can of Beer Is A Can of Beer...
Joe Moore Super Bowl Pub Crawl
Aldermanic Candidate Ginderske Fights New Liquor Licenses

Fred Thompson Defends Ex-Doper

I can't wait for all the stoners in Rogers Park to comment on this.

Fred Thompson said Sunday that he wishes he had known earlier that one of his key presidential campaign advisers pleaded guilty to drug charges but he still thinks Phil Martin is 'a good man.' FULL STORY at Fox News...

GANG TURF WAR ON MORSE AVENUE: BATS, KNIVES, BLOODY NOSES

CHICAGO - Despite the "cleaning up" of a rough strip in the Rogers Park neighborhood on the city's northeast side, the gangs are fighting for their drug market turf, and it came to blows on the evening of Sunday, October 7 at 9:40 p.m.

Witnesses tell The Bench that there was a group of ten thugs standing in front of J.B. Alberto's Pizza at 1326 W. Morse Avenue in Rogers Park last Sunday evening, when another group of thugs came around the corner of N. Glenwood and Morse, near the CTA's elevated train tracks. Carrying baseball bats and brandishing knives, the two rival gang factions went at each other. Both factions, witnesses say, were black gang members fighting over the "right" to sell their deadly narcotics in this part of Chicago.

One witness called 911 at 9:43 p.m. He said the police reacted quickly. Nevertheless, he told The Bench, he saw at least one guy "get the shit kicked out of him" by another thug just outside of the CTA Red Line station, about 140 feet west of J.B. Alberto's. "There were a lot of bloody noses," the witness said.

It is not clear which gangs were involved in this fight, but it is clear that the gangs and drugs problem persists - in spite of all the feel-good propaganda put out by 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore.

Photos: Crack Smokers on the Front Porch

Rogers Park, a rough neighborhood on Chicago's northeast side, harbors many drug dealers, public drunks, and crack houses. Here, in Alderman Joe Moore's 49th Ward, neighbor and fellow blogger Craig Gernhardt caught several locals smoking crack - on a front stoop in broad daylight! See * Smoking Crack @ Peter Sterniuk's House now! One of the women, whom Craig has dubbed "Crystal," is a known two dollar whore and thug hag. Nice work, Craig.

Video: Mr. Boombox Entertains Drunks in Park

Unlicensed Pharmacy in Rogers Park

Business in Rogers Park's 49th Ward is thriving! Seems like everywhere you look, there's another unregulated food cart, open air corner saloon - or, as Craig Gernhardt reports today, an unlicensed "pharmacy." (Are these businesses members of DevCorp North?)

Running A Business Without a License Not only do the Open Air Drug Market Salesman run a unlicensed business out of this location in Rogers Park. From the looks of things, so does this buildings management. FULL STORY at Broken Heart...

Candied Methamphetamine Warning

Hat tip to Toni at Howardwatchers... Candied Meth - True - from Snopes.com More: Drug Dealers Marketing Candied Dope To Kids Dallas, TX (AHN) - Drug dealers are using catchy names as Pop Tarts, Strawberry Quick and Cheese to get young children hooked on illegal drugs. Police in Lake Worth this week found candy-flavored methamphetamine, known as Strawberry Quick, the Dallas Morning News reported in its Thursday editions. Cheese, which is crushed nighttime cold tablets laced with heroin, has infiltrated Dallas schools, the newspaper reported, noting that at least 21 youths have died by overdosing on the drug. "These are evil drug dealers who are marketing to kids," Special Agent Terri Wyatt told The Morning News. Strawberry-flavored meth gained national attention after the Nevada Department of Public Safety issued a police bulletin alerting law enforcement of the substance in late January. FULL STORY...