Tripped Smoke Alarm Leads To Dismantling Of Drug Ring In Hightstown: Prosecutor

HIGHTSTOWN, NJ — A tripped fire alarm lead to the dismantling of what police called a “major marijuana distribution ring” in Hightstown.

Neil E. Schloss, 46, of Millstone Township, was arrested, and more than $900,000 in high-grade marijuana products — including marijuana edibles — were seized during the raid last week, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri said on Wednesday.

• $2,449 in cash;
• 80 pounds of bulk marijuana;
• 808 energy drinks;
• 3,489 pill bottles containing raw marijuana (high-grade designer marijuana);
• 488 bags of assorted edible THC products (hemp gummies, trail mix, honey bars, jolly rockets, etc.);
• 2,144 vials of THC oil;
• 384 jars of THC powder;
• 122 jars of THC ointment;
• 27 bottles of THC medical cream;
• 7 boxes of massage oil;
• 40 jars of relief balm;
• 3 boxes of dog biscuits;
• 26 boxes of PMS relief;
• 85 jars of marijuana wax;
• 31 jars of bath salts;
• 21 boxes of THC pretzels; and
• Lowell smokes.

During the course of the investigation, Schloss was identified as the owner/operator of CannaSence, a supplier of high-grade marijuana products, Onofri said. Detectives believe customers ordered marijuana products through a CannaSence website. They say the products were then shipped from 109 Mercer Street via the U.S. Postal Service.

Schloss is charged with maintaining and operating a marijuana manufacturing facility, possession of marijuana over 50 grams, possession with the intent to distribute, a first-degree offense, possession with the intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school and possession with the intent to distribute within 500 feet of public housing.

Additionally, about 26 bank accounts that belonged to Schloss and his associates and contained a total of about $777,900 were frozen through a court order. Schloss was released from the correction center pending future court appearances. He faces a maximum of 20 years in state prison if convicted.

“The market for marijuana edibles has dramatically increased as medical cannabis legalization has spread across the country,” Onofri said. “The fact that they are a very tantalizing, tempting way for people to experiment poses even greater risks to keeping marijuana out of the hands of children and teens. Taken in large doses, marijuana edibles can lead to anxiety attacks, paranoia and hallucinations, and several reports have found that respiratory insufficiency can also be a major side effect in young children.”

Officers with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hamilton, Hightstown and Trenton police, under the command of the prosecutor’s Special Investigations Unit, assisted with the investigation.

See related: Police Issue Warning On Marijuana Edibles In Halloween Candy

The attached image of Neil E. Schloss was provided by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office