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Manchester Stores Allowed To Reopen After Being Closed For Suspected Connection To Overdoses

Courtesy image/Manchester PD

  The three Manchester stores that were closed last week in the wake of the synthetic marijuana overdoses have been allowed to reopen. The stores have agreed not to sell any brand of so-called spice.

One of the three stores reopened after a judge ruled the closure was unwarranted. The other two were allowed to reopen after they pledged to the aldermen that they wouldn’t sell spice. Each of the shop owners deny ever selling the Bubblegum flavored spice associated with the overdoses in Manchester that prompted Governor Maggie Hassan to declare a state of emergency. The stores had been identified as the sources of the legal drug but police failed to locate the spice when they searched the locations. Attorney and Alderman Joe Kelly Levasseur, who represented one of the stores, called the closing a “repugnant” overreach by the city. Police Chief David Mara said the city was trying to protect the public.

“Anybody that would term this or describe this as being ‘kneejerk’ is absurd. We had a public health safety emergency.”

State and local authorities are set to meet this week to look at ways to ban the drug statewide.

Before becoming a reporter for NHPR, Ryan devoted many months interning with The Exchange team, helping to produce their daily talk show. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire in Manchester with a major in Politics and Society and a minor in Communication Arts. While in school, he also interned for a DC-based think tank. His interests include science fiction and international relations. Ryan is a life-long Manchester resident.
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