The DEA issued a letter Monday directed at online retailers selling pill presses, informing them that they are required to report sales of these presses to the DEA.

According to the DEA, pill presses are commonly used to disguise the deadly opioid fentanyl by replicating existing prescription medications. These replicated pills are then sold to people who are typically unaware they’re buying fentanyl. These pill presses are incredibly easy to find online and sell for as little as 40 dollars. This, in part, has fueled a scourge of overdoses in the last several years, 110,757 in 2022 alone by the DEA’s count.

“With these tools, criminal actors are able to produce pills that look like legitimate prescription medication—like oxycodone, Xanax, and Adderall—but are not,” the DEA said. “Those pills actually contain fentanyl and other deadly drugs.  Criminals then sell those pills on social media and in our communities, often to people who do not know that the pills are not real or that they contain deadly drugs.”

The DEA implicitly stated that pursuant to the Controlled Substances Act, e-commerce retailers responsible for selling these pill presses are required to keep records of everybody who buys and sells a press, and also required to report this information to the DEA.

“DEA has found that pill presses and stamps that can be used to make fentanyl pills are being offered for sale on various e-commerce platforms.  E-commerce entities selling pill press machines are generally ‘regulated persons’ under the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. § 802(38), and therefore, subject to the recordkeeping, identification, and reporting requirements of 21 U.S.C. § 830,” the DEA said. “As regulated entities, e-commerce platforms are required to comply with CSA recordkeeping and reporting requirements on the distribution, importation, and exportation of pill press machines.  This means that they must collect information on the buyer and seller and provide notice to the DEA of any sale, import, export, or transfer.”

The DEA said that the vast majority of these fake pills are produced by two particular Mexican cartels. The United States government has put increasing pressure on Mexico in recent years to curb the flow of fentanyl, including fentanyl disguised in these fake pills, from crossing over the United States Mexico border. Even after signs were posted all over Sinaloa appearing to ban the production and sale of fentanyl by the authority of the cartels, fentanyl overdoses and seizures have not slowed down at all.

“The drug cartels primarily responsible for manufacturing fentanyl and smuggling it into the United States are the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco Cartel.  These cartels, their members and associates, and other drug traffickers are using pill presses to shape fentanyl powder into pills, and they are using stamps to imprint markings and logos onto those pills as they are pressed,” the DEA said.

According to the DEA, over 79 million fake fentanyl-containing pills were seized in 2023, which marked a 33% increase over pill seizures in 2022. DEA lab tests have shown that 70% of seized pills are pressed and contain fentanyl. Seventy percent of all drug overdoses in 2022 were also due to ingestion of fentanyl.

“Drug traffickers are killing Americans by selling fentanyl hidden in fake pills made to look like real prescription medicines. This is possible because drug traffickers are able to buy the tools they need, like pill presses and stamps, online,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “E-commerce platforms cannot turn a blind eye to the fentanyl crisis and to the sale of pill presses on their platforms.  They must do their part to protect the public, and when they do not, DEA will hold them accountable.”

The DEA said that they launched the Industry Liaison Project in 2019, in which they communicated with over two dozen of the largest online retailers about pill press sales on their websites. They said that several, including Amazon and Etsy, banned the sale of pill presses on their platforms outright. However, as the hyperlink I included at the top of this article proves, dozens and dozens of pill presses are very much still for sale on Amazon. I also found several pill presses for sale on Etsy with about five seconds of effort on Google.

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Despite the stress, the threat of COVID-19, the anxiety of finding a job and the looming fear of lifelong debt in some cases, college students deserve some recognition. A recent The Washington Post study has shown that cannabis use is rising rapidly among college-aged adults, and they’re drinking much less alcohol as a result. To support this healthy life change, check out these affordable cannabis accessories students can use to spice up their life and help direct them toward the self-care routine they deserve. Don’t forget to provide a little weed, too!

2G XL Delta 8 Disposable

DABS TO GO! Introducing the new 2G XL Delta 8 Disposable from STNR Creations! This device is a total game changer, with adjustable airflow, 25watt auto-draw with a “burst button” the fires at 30 watts—OH, did we mention it’s also rechargeable?! Coming in holding two grams of the highest quality D8 distillate + natural terpenes, the flavor on these are stellar. STNR is the perfect place to find goodies for your stoner friends (or yourself!) for the holidays.

Use code “HIGHGIFTS” for 40 percent off on www.stnrcreations.com.

Price: $65

www.stnrcreations.com

Revelry—The Mini Confidant

Sometimes, it is prudent to leave your dorm room with your stash safely sealed. Avoid any unwanted detection with Revelry’s The Mini Confidant, which is a small smell-proof bag that’s the perfect size for taking your stash on the go. It’s small enough to fit into most pockets, is water resistant and has a carbon filter system to ensure that your favorite items won’t be detected when it’s in your possession.

Price: $20

revelrysupply.com

Santa Cruz Shredder

There are plenty of grinders on the market, but if you’re on a budget, get one that’s going to last you a lifetime. The Santa Cruz Shredder is a tried-and-true piece made of anodized aluminum that will never wear down, and its patented teeth design ensures a reliable grind every time. It comes in a variety of bright colors, and you can buy extra additions to add to this two-piece.

Price: $35.50

santacruzshredder.com

Veil OG

There are some things that every college-aged cannabis connoisseur needs, and you never want to be without—an air deodorizer. Whether you’re having someone special over to your dorm, or your family is visiting, the Veil OG is a great option. Infused with the scents of sweet orange, black pepper and Virginia cedar, this spray will excellently overpower any cannabis scents in your space with a potent, but nice smelling scent. Bonus points for being non-toxic and eco-friendly.

Price: $19.99

smellveil.com

Skunk—Mini Backpack

While this is more expensive than any other item on our list here, all students know that investing some extra cash in a good backpack is an investment that pays off. The Skunk Mini Backpack is the perfect way to transport your student essentials, but also doubles as an excellent way to store and transport cannabis items as well, thanks to its 100 percent smell-proof carbon lining.

Price: $60

skunkbags.com

Vibes Rolling Papers

Unlike your typical rolling papers, Vibes Fine Rolling Papers come in a variety of types, including Rice, Ultra Thin, Hemp and Organic Hemp. Vibes argues that its rolling papers can hold even more material than the average competitor, and the thinness of the papers allow for less paper smoke and more cannabis. Vibes’ King Size Slim rolling papers can fit a whole gram of dried herb within!

Price: $2.50

vibespapers.com

Handmade Pencil Pipe

Sometimes, a gift that is handcrafted means much more than the average, store-bought purchase. This beautifully crafted ceramic pipe, in the form of a traditional pencil, is the perfect gift to honor the courageous pursuit of knowledge as a student. You can’t write with it, but you can pose stoically with it while you smoke or take Instagram photos.

Price: $45

www.etsy.com

Pax—Era Life

Out of the countless vape pens, the Pax Era Life is one of the most celebrated when it comes down to size and price. Small, discreet and affordable, the Era Life is a reliable and long-lasting oil vaporizer that makes consumption a breeze. Enjoy an extended battery life while offering quality from Pax, which historically has had over a decade of innovation.

Price: $35

www.pax.com

Ugly House—Dab Kit

Despite its name, Ugly House has a really fresh take on cannabis accessories. We fell in love with the art on its dab kits, which come with a silicone rolling tray, a metal rolling tray, a silicone dab container and a matching dab tool! Ugly House offers a variety of pieces that are creative and artistic, but don’t perpetuate that overplayed “stoner” aesthetic.

Price: $27.99

getugly.co

ChaCha Chainz—Joint Holders

Smoke in style with a joint holder handblown in the US of A. Offered in the colors of Purple, Amber, Grey, Emerald, Lilac on ChaChaChainz main website, these holders all have slightly different shapes to make them unique from one another. Each one is approximately 3.75 to four inches long, with a diameter of 7mm, and is offered either a “small” size that’s ideal for slip rolled joints, or a “medium” joint for standard size pre-roll cones. Don’t smoke your joints like a chump any longer!

Price: $30

www.chachachainz.com

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Shopping small this year? Check out these gifts for stoners that you can find on Etsy.

The post Shop small with these 12 Etsy gifts for stoners appeared first on Leafly.

The post Shop small with these 12 Etsy gifts for stoners appeared first on Paradise Found.