KEARNY —
This job is so educational.
While it is common knowledge that marijuana can bring on the munchies, we were not aware that there now are companies actually manufacturing marijuana-infused food products for purchase by stoners. We learned this while “researching” a (to us) rather odd Kearny arrest report. Our suspicion is that one suspect may have been concocting his own recipes.
The report: On July 28, KPD Vice officers, as part of “an ongoing marijuana-distribution investigation,” were on surveillance on the 100 block of Chestnut St. At about 10 p.m., they witnessed an apparent hand-to-hand drug transaction between two Kearny men — Juan Rexach, 34, alleged seller, and Joseph Sabados, 23, alleged customer.
The detectives stopped Sabados a short distance away and reportedly found him to be in possession of one cellophane-wrapped package of pot concealed in a cigarette pack. They then confronted Rexach, who was still holding a $20 bill in his left hand and was in possession of a plastic bag containing weed, police said.
A subsequent search of Rexach’s residence reportedly turned up: a large glass jar with six more bags of the drug; another glass jar holding marijuana mixed with coconut flour, and a third glass jar containing marijuana oil mixed with Nutella. (Yes, Nutella. That creamy hazelnut-chocolate concoction.)
Police said they also confiscated a digital scale and an additional $440 in cash, believed to be the proceeds of drug sales.
Rexach was charged with possession of more than 50 grams of marijuana, distribution of the drug, distribution in a school zone and possession of drug paraphernalia. Sabados likely would have been charged just with possession of pot and paraphernalia, however he ended up in the Hudson County Jail.
Police said he had a no-bail burglary warrant from the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office and a no-bail warrant from the Essex County Sheriff on a charge of receiving stolen property. Also, a $100 warrant for allegedly littering in Trenton.
Now, back to the munchies: We do not know exactly what one might bake with pot and coconut flour, but the Nutella mention sent us web-surfing, and we learned that a Canadian company is manufacturing its own version of the spread (never mind the brand name; we are not offering a free ad) containing cannabis and selling for $23 a jar.
We also had never heard of marijuana oil, and in a search for that, we discovered that one can purchase cannabis-scented perfume. So, police officers, please be aware that the next time you encounter the “strong odor of marijuana,” you could meet with an “it’s-only-my-cologne” defense.
