Felony Charges for the Owner of Bouncing Bear Botanicals

By Krystle Cole - February 7, 2010

Charges Against Bouncing Bear Botanicals Dropped!

 

Jonathan Sloan, the owner of Bouncing Bear Botanicals, was charged with 8 felonies on Friday February 5, 2010 in Jefferson County Court in Kansas (Read a press release from the Jefferson County Attorney's Office). An overview of the charges are as follows:

  • manufacturing of controlled substances: Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)

  • manufacturing of controlled substances: Mescaline

  • manufacturing of controlled substances: Lysergic Acid Amide (LSA)

  • cultivation or distribution of controlled substances: Mescaline in the form of San Pedro Cacti

  • cultivation or distribution of controlled substances: Dimethyltryptamine in the form of Mimosa Hostilis powder and bark, Psychotria Viridis, Desmanthis Illinoensis, Epena, Chaliponga, and Cebil Seeds

  • cultivation or distribution of controlled substances: Bufotenine in the form of Psychotria Viridis, Epena, Chaliponga, Cebil Seeds, and Colorado River Toads

  • cultivation or distribution of controlled substances: Lysergic Acid Amide in the form of Morning Glory Seeds, Hawaiian Baby Woodrose Seeds, and Ololiuhqui seeds

  • possession of certain drug precursors and drug paraphernalia: Plastic jugs and filters used or intended for unlawful use to manufacture, cultivate, plant propagate, harvest, test, analyze or distribute a controlled substance

It remains to be seen what proof the Jefferson County authorities have of a DMT, LSA, and/or mescaline manufacturing operation. Until more information is released on this aspect of the charges, we can only speculate. The same goes for the charge of possession of drug precursors and drug paraphernalia.

The charges for the cultivation and/or distribution of the controlled substances Mescaline, DMT, Bufotenine, and LSA in their natural plant forms are a different matter. All of the plants listed in the charges are unscheduled and uncontrolled in the United States. This is groundbreaking from a legal standpoint because this is the first time anyone has ever been charged for the cultivation or distribution of any of these plants.

Many of these plants are sold at gardening stores throughout the country. People are legally allowed to grow them in their gardens and put them to any other use that they see fit. That said, these plants are not approved by the FDA for human consumption. The bouncing bear website complies with this by clearly stating that these substances are not being sold for human consumption.

It is a sad state of affairs when business owners get charges for simply operating their business within the confines of the law. If it turns out that plants that contain scheduled chemicals (Mimosa Hostilis, San Pedro, Morning Glory Seeds, etc.) are in fact illegal like the Jefferson County authorities are claiming, then the laws need to be clarified so that everyone can understand them. Beyond this, stores like Home Depot and Walmart need to be prosecuted for cultivation and distribution alongside Bouncing Bear. If these plants are not illegal, then law enforcement needs to stop harassing innocent citizens.

More updates will be posted on the NeuroSoup website about the charges against the owner of Bouncing Bear Botanicals as we get information. In the meantime, our prayers are with Jon and the entire Bouncing Bear family.

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