An Ashland couple has been arrested for selling what’s known as synthetic marijuana following a federal indictment earlier this month by a grand jury.
Head shop owners Anna Novak and John Morrison are facing 35 criminal charges that include distributing controlled substances, skimming money from sales and filing false tax returns.
The indictment alleges employees sold products labeled as herbal incense at the couple’s direction knowing people would smoke them.
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The indictment is seeking to recover $1.5 million. Morrison and Novak are facing up to 20 years in federal prison on each drug count. The two appeared in federal court in Florida and have been released on bail. Their arraignment is set for Jan. 6 in Madison.
Read the indictment of Novak and Morrison here.
The Wisconsin State Crime Lab received 269 synthetic cannabinoid cases for analysis last year. Wisconsin DOJ spokeswoman Dana Brueck says drug cases are typically sent to the lab when a case goes to trial.
As of August this year, the lab had received 161 cases for review.
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