Original Black Panthers of Milwaukee Virtually Got Rid Of Legal Lean/Synthetic Pot From Community Before Common Council Outlawed Sales

The Milwaukee Common Council made it illegal to sell Legal Lean (synthetic pot) and Hy-Tech Syrup in the City of Milwaukee just one year and a half after the Original Black Panthers of Milwaukee began their campaign to stop the sale at local grocery and gas station stores.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

December 10, 2017

Milwaukee, WI - On Saturday, Darryl Farmer, the General for the Original Black Panthers of Milwaukee (OBPM) confirmed in his Facebook account, that "FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF THE ORIGINAL BLACK PANTHERS OF MILWAUKEE HAVE VIRTUALLY RID THE MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY OF LEGAL LEAN AND HY-TECH SYRUP! THE COMMON COUNCIL MADE IT ILLEGAL TO SELL IN THE CITY!! IF THE KING IS WRONG, PROVE ME WRONG!! HMMMMMMMM.......The stores, gas stations and other businesses that sold legal lean (like synthetic pot) will tell you they stopped because of The Original Black Panthers of Milwaukee!!" The OBPM had put pressure on the Common Council to make Legal Lean illegal, but haven't yet been recognized for their efforts to help stop local grocery and gas station stores from selling it. The OBPM would visit the stores while video recording their visits and putting pressure on store operators to stop selling the synthetic pot to kids and the public. Although, Alderman Khalif J. Rainey has failed to acknowledge the OBPM efforts that helped stop the sale of Legal Lean, Farmer on the other hand is very outspoken about their success by taking credit with his group in helping to get rid of the synthetic pot in their community.

On Friday, Alderman Rainey from the 7th Aldermanic District released the following press release, A city news event hosted yesterday outlined the next steps in the city's legal proceedings involving the former Foodtown Mini Mart on Hopkins St., located in the 7th Aldermanic District. 

The city took ownership of the location after shutting down the store as a public nuisance for selling a potentially deadly form of synthetic marijuana called K-2.
A similar synthetic drug scourge on city neighborhoods – a mood-enhancing, over-the-counter drink sometimes called "Legal Lean" that is targeted toward kids – is now illegal after legislation I sponsored was approved by the Common Council in June. These synthetic drugs prey on our youth and send them on a downward spiral of a life consumed by drug addiction.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, two substances commonly used in Legal Lean are kratom, also known as herbal speedball (it provides an opioid-like effect), and kava, also known as an intoxicating pepper (it provides users a feeling of sedation and muscle weakness).
My legislation (Council File #170238) makes it illegal to use, possess or sell those two herbal depressants in the City of Milwaukee. Our city is now following other large cities and nations in seeking to prevent products like Legal Lean from reaching kids. In fact, these herbs are considered controlled substances in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.