Gas station owner refuses to sell synthetic marijuana

WIXOM, Mich. (WXYZ) - After synthetic marijuana was linked to a high-profile murder, a Wixom businessman is making sure the product never sits on his store's shelves.

Steve Poota runs his family’s BP gas station on Old Wixom Road near Pontiac Trail in Wixom. He had placed an order for a shipment of K2, also known as Spice, after getting recommendations. “I have a couple people I know who own businesses and they told me, ‘You should carry it. And it sells really good, and you make good money on that.’” said Poota. He also had customers requesting it.

The order for 36 packets was placed, but Poota canceled it when he heard about the Cipriano murder. Police are investigating if Tucker Cipriano was high on drugs when he and his friend, Mitchell Young, allegedly attacked Cipriano’s family on April 16. Tucker’s father, Robert, was killed. His mother, Rose, and brother, Sal, are still recovering in the hospital.

“There are other ways that we can sell other things,” said Poota. “And there’s other ways to make money in a way that’s not bad for people.”

Word of Poota's actions spread quickly on Facebook and reached one a Cipriano relative. Poota says the relative called from out-of-state to thank him for pulling the product.