Police warning parents about incense

Who would think that common incense would be harmful to humans?

That is what Slidell police are saying about two forms of incense called Spice Gold and Yucatan Fire. Slidell Police Chief Freddie Drennan has received several calls from concerned parents who have found their children are actually smoking the two types of incense to get high.

Drennan started an investigation and discovered via the Internet there is a Web site where the two brands are sold, and they are not cheap. According to the Web site they both sell for about $18 a gram and are sold in 3 gram amounts.

Police spokesman Capt. Kevin Foltz said there is one store in Slidell that sells Spice Gold and Yucatan Fire. While he would not give the name of the store, Foltz said the shop’s owners told him they were sold out of both incenses and didn’t know when they would get another shipment.

In fact, on the Web site, Yucatan Fire is out of stock, but the seller promises more within a week.

Though it did not give the ingredients of Yucatan Fire, the Web site said the incense has a “unique and uplifting aroma and is blended by an experienced herbal shaman.”

Spice Gold is described on the Web site as providing an “uplifting feeling — stimulating yet soothing —surprisingly effective.”

The ingredients of Spice Gold are listed on the site as Baybean, blue lotus, lion’s tail, lousewort, Indian warrior, dwarf scullcap, maconha brava, pink lotus, marshmallow, red clover, rose, Siberian motherwort, vanilla and honey.

The Web site has a disclaimer that it will not sell these two products to anyone under the age of 18. In fact, to enter the site, a user must click on a link saying they are over 18 years of age. Foltz said the local shop clerks told him they will only sell Spice Gold and Yucatan Fire to people over 18 who have the proper identification.

The packaging of Spice Gold is gold in color with a picture of a black eye. Yucatan Fire packaging is bright red with a green leaf design.

Drennan said there are no laws against selling the incense at this time, but said he is looking into legal solutions.

“I will check with lawmakers about putting legislation through about making them illegal, if possible,” Drennan said.

The Web site has a phone number located in Florida.

St. Tammany News called the number, but the person who answered the phone would not identify himself and refused to answer any questions.