SPRINGFIELD, Ill. & TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Joined by 41 other attorneys general, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Florida AG Pam Bondi co-sponsored a letter calling on nine oil companies to take steps to stop synthetic drugs from being illegally sold at gas stations and convenience stores operating under their brand names.
Click here to view the letter.
The letter said that law enforcement agencies have confirmed more than 130 instances of branded gas stations having illegally sold synthetic drugs across the country in recent years. It expressed serious concerns about the reported incidents of gas stations and convenience stores operating under brand names of reputable oil companies and selling illegal synthetic drugs.
Synthetic drug use has increased dramatically over the past several years. Starting in 2010, more than 11,000 people, many of whom were younger than 17, went to the emergency room after using synthetic marijuana.
"When teens and young adults can find synthetic drugs for sale at gas stations operating under well-known brands, its gives these illegal products the false appearance of legitimacy when in fact they are very dangerous, potentially deadly drugs," Madigan said. "Oil companies spend millions of dollars on marketing campaigns designed to convince customers their brands are trustworthy. Prohibiting the sale of synthetic drugs in their stores can only protect their brand reputations while also protecting our youth."
"We have made great strides in Florida by banning more than 131 chemical compounds found in the most common synthetic drugs, but more needs to be done to keep these dangerous drugs out of the hands of our youth," said Bondi. "We are calling on oil companies to make sure franchisees keep these deadly drugs off store shelves."
The AGs sent the letter to top company officials at BP, Chevron, Citgo, ExxonMobil, Marathon Petroleum, Phillips 66, Shell Oil, Sunoco and Valero. In it, the attorneys general requested the companies address this growing problem by:
- Prohibiting franchisees from selling any synthetic drugs.
- Ensuring the prohibition is understood by store franchisees and their employees by communicating directly with each of them.
- Establishing a point of contact in corporate offices for franchisees, should they have any questions about synthetic drugs.
- Revoking the franchisee/franchisor relationship with any gas station or convenience store that sells synthetic drugs.
- Reporting to local law enforcement authorities if any franchisee is selling synthetic drugs.
Joining Madigan and Bondi in sending today's letter were attorneys general from the following states and territories: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
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