



PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced a temporary restraining order against Jason Ashley and his head shop, The Grateful Toad in Saranac Lake, barring it from the alleged sale of mislabeled designer drugs.

Schneiderman will seek a permanent injunction against Ashley as well as thousands of dollars in penalties and costs. State Supreme Court Judge John Ellis signed the attorney’s order.

“The proliferation of illegal designer drugs is a national health crisis that is hurting New York families and communities, and my office has successfully stopped more than 20 head shops across our state from selling these dangerous drugs” Schneiderman said. “My office will continue to use every tool in our arsenal to combat the growing and dangerous designer drug epidemic.”

The legal action comes after it was determined the Grateful Toad allegedly sold the botanical drug “Kratom” in e-liquid, capsule and tea powder forms. Kratom, as a real plant collected for its drug effects, and being marketed as a drug by the store, must then meet legal requirements for a drug.

Under New York law, the packaging must identify the name of the manufacturer, the common product name, the net quantity of contents and serving sizes. The Grateful Toad allegedly used almost no labeling on its product.