Citgo Asks Gas Stations to Stop Selling Spice
In a letter, a company leader asks local owners to stop selling Spice or K2—a synthetic form of marijuana—at all of its stations, effective immediately.
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Citgo has asked the owners of its gas stations to stop selling K2 and Spice—a synthetic form of marijuana.
The sale of K2 and Spice has caused concern for many parents and local officials in Michigan, and Alan Flagg, the general manager of light oils marketing for Citgo, joined the outcry.
In a letter dated May 31, Flagg asked the local owners of Citgo stations to stop the sale of K2 at locally-owned, Citgo-branded locations, even in states where the substances are legal, including Michigan.
“Substances such as synthetic marijuana and Bath Salts, sold under a variety of names, including Spice and K2, have proven to be harmful substances, especially for teenagers,” Flagg wrote in the letter. “At least 40 states have banned their sale in some form and legislation is pending in other states. Clearly, the sale of these substances creates a negative image that is disparaging to the CITGO brand and the many individual identities that your retail locations have in their communities.
“Therefore, the sale of these substances in a CITGO-branded location is prohibited under our Marketer Franchise Agreement (the “MFA”),” Flagg continued. “Should sales of these substances at CITGO-branded locations continue after the date of this letter, CITGO may take such action as it deems appropriate to protect its brand image, including debranding the location.”
In addition, Citgo is working with the Michigan Petroleum Association to back a bill in the state Senate that would prohibit the sale of “synthetic cannabinoids.”
Senate Bill 1082 is sponsored by Sen. Dave Hildenbrand, who represents the 29th District in Kent County.
State Rep. George Darany of Dearborn has introduced a similar bill in the House.
This morning, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and Sheriff Michael Bouchard announced that on June 7, they and Auday Arabo, President and CEO of the Associated Food & Petroleum Dealers, will unveil a countywide initiative to help stem the distribution and use of synthetic marijuana and other synthetic drugs.
A Facebook Group called Ban K2 Shelby has organized a rally at the Citgo Gas Station on Van Dyke in Shelby Township June 2 at 10:45 a.m. after the owner said he would not stop selling K2 until it becomes illegal to do so in Michigan.
To see a complete copy of the letter sent by Citgo, click on the PDF attached to the article.
Lisa Haggadone
3:02 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
It's about time some of the oil companies took some responsibility and made this garbage unavailable in their stations. I have been sending e-mails to BP Oil concerning the marijuana smoking bongs in their station at Ormond and Highland Roads. I sometimes take my grandchildren in the station with me and do not appreciate the fact that they see these offensive items on the counter. No response to any of my numerous e-mails. I am about to sit in their parking lot with petitions to have these removed from the station. If folks want to buy "tobacco smoking pipes" They can go to tobacco stores, where you have to be 18 years of age to enter.
cmg
3:52 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
I agree. You have to show ID to buy cough drops, sudafed and spray paint but you can buy this if you're 15? Ridiculous.
colin
6:29 pm on Sunday, June 3, 2012
I'm alright with 15 year olds smoking marijuana, actually.
Mark
7:33 pm on Sunday, June 3, 2012
Too bad people should boycott Citgo because it is a nationalized company owned by the dictator Hugo Chavez who has publicly declared himself an adversary of the United States. Not to mention his regime has committed all kinds of atrocities against their own people. So while that's great that they won't sell Spice they are no rallying point for people. US citizens should steer WELL clear of these gas stations.
Mike
11:40 am on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Hey Mark,
It's not going to financially hurt Chavez. It's only going to hurt your community business owner that is open for business. I don't think that it would be a good idea.
Mark
11:45 am on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Well no in fact if Americans united to boycott Citgo it in fact would hurt Chavez financially. Ultimately most people will do what is convenient but I know that my dollars will not support his deplorable regime.