'Fake weed' CEO Adam Wookey charged in $2M drug bust
Toronto man released on $10,000 bail following Monday arrest
The head of a synthetic marijuana company whose product was being sold in Hamilton is in trouble with the law again after a $2-million drug bust.
Toronto police arrested Adam Wookey, 29, of Toronto, on Monday along with four others. The CEO of the Izms and PurePillz companies is now facing a host of drug-related charges.
On Monday, officers from the Toronto police drug squad executed six search warrants in connection with a two-week investigation into an alleged illegal drug distribution network.
Officers allegedly found $1-million worth of MDMA, $580,000 worth of pot, and $200,000 worth of cocaine in the raids. Smaller amounts of heroin, crystal meth and ketamine were also found, along with $90,000 in cash considered “proceeds of crime,” police say.
Wookey was arrested in Hamilton in March on charges related to synthetic marijuana Izms products. Hamilton police charged him after a downtown adult novelty store in the city was robbed of its entire supply of the “synthetic weed” in January.
Synthetic cannabis, also known as synthetic cannabinoids, doesn’t contain any real cannabis. It's a blend of herbs sprayed with man-made hallucinogens that mimic the effects of marijuana.
Synthetic marijuana is typically packaged in small pouches with brand names like Spice, K-2 or IZMS. The packages often say "not for human consumption" on the label.
Wookey insisted the product isn’t illegal. In May, charges in the case were stayed without explanation. The current charges against him aren’t connected to Izms, police said.
Wookey appeared in court Tuesday morning and was granted $10,000 bail.