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This photo from Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, shows Halle Ohlin, 44, of Redding, Calif., handcuffed while speaking to officers inside Happy Clouds Smoke Shop on Hartnell Avenue. Police say Ohlin was arrested for felony possession of “magic mushrooms” for sales, selling a vape product to a minor, and possessing a loaded firearm, following their Minor Decoy Operation targeting smoke shops suspected of selling products to under-aged buyers. (Courtesy: Redding Police Department)
REDDING, Calif. — Three people were arrested after a minor decoy operation at smoke shops suspected of illegally selling products to under-aged buyers, according to police.
The Redding Police Department (RPD) says their School Resource Officers (SROs) identified smoke shops suspected of selling marijuana, tobacco, vape and flavored products to minors near schools. The shops were identified as Less Smoke Shop on Eureka Way, Smokers Smoke Shop on Lake Boulevard, and Happy Clouds Smoke Shop on Hartnell Avenue.
On Tuesday, the RPD says SROs, in partnership with the Shasta County Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA), conducted a directed enforcement minor decoy operation at the smoke shops. During the course of the operation, police say officers found multiple stores selling chocolate bars made with psilocybin, aka “magic mushrooms,” with counterfeit wrapping similar to popular candy bars.
“SROs and school officials are very aware of the growing vape trend with students, even as young as 10 years old,” the police department wrote in their social media post on Wednesday. “[The RPD] will continue ton conduct these operations with the help of grant funding provided by the Department of Justice Tobacco Grant Program through the HHSA.”
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