THE proprietor of a ‘herbal high’ shop in Newry has defended the store after a group linked to dissident republicans issued a statement blaming the shop’s products to cases of anti-social behaviour.
The South Down 32 County Sovereignty Movement said they would be “taking a greater interest” in the Happy Buzz shop in Marcus Street, which sells a range of legal products, including herbal substitutes for cocaine and cannabis. In the statement, the group said they had been contacted by a number of people raising concerns about the store and claimed some of the products were linked to anti-social behaviour in Newry and Mourne.
“THE 32 CSM has been contacted by a number of concerned residents regarding the sale of so-called legal high drugs to youths in the Newry, Warrenpoint, Rostrevor, Hilltown and Mayobridge areas,” the statement read.
“The 32 CSM is currently researching the range of drugs these individuals are peddling and are deeply concerned about the possible effects, both short and long term, that these substances cause.
“There have been numerous accounts of the anti-social and violent aftermath of youths taking these products and we are aware also of the concerns raised by the medical profession about their effects.”
The statement urged the shop to cease trading, claiming the products glamorised and normalised the taking of drugs.
“The Republican Movement will be taking a greater interest in this issue in future and anyone with concerns should contact the 32 CSM,” the statement added.
Responding to the statement, the proprietor of the store, who asked to remain anonymous, said the shop was completely legitimate and that there was no link between its products and incidents of anti-social behaviour.
“We are 100 per cent legal,” he said. “We have a strict over-18 policy and ID is always asked for. The police searched the store very recently for any illegal products and were satisfied that everything we sold was above board.
“At the end of the day, all our products are governmentapproved and we are doing absolutely nothing wrong and there is no evidence at all of the products being responsible for acts of anti-social behaviour.”