California man allegedly stopped in Springfield with 3,000 THC vape cartridges – Springfield News-Leader

Authorities say a California man was stopped last year with about 3,000 e-cigarette cartridges filled with THC oil.

Reza Gomarian, 49, was charged Tuesday with 12 counts of delivery of a controlled substance.

According to a probable cause statement, Gomarian was driving a Budget rental truck on Interstate 44 in Greene County on May 28, 2018, when he was stopped for going 72 mph in a 60 mph zone.

More: Springfield police seize record amount of marijuana — without really trying

The statement says Gomarian agreed to let Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers search the vehicle, and they seized 3,000 vials of THC oil that were meant to be used in e-cigarettes. THC is the chemical in marijuana that induces a high.

Court documents say the THC oil cartridges had names like Bubblegum Kush, Tangie OG, Grape Lemonade and Hawaiian Punch.

Gomarian allegedly declined to speak with a highway patrol detective about the case.

The 12 charges Gomarian is facing are Class C felonies punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

More: Ozarks school leaders say Juul e-cigarettes are everywhere. Experts say that’s bad.

Gomarian does not have an attorney listed for this case. A criminal summons has been issued for him in Greene County.

Vaping linked to lung disease

Vaping devices have been in the news this week after officials say a Kansas woman became the sixth person nationally to die of vaping-related lung illness. President Donald Trump held a policy discussion on vaping on Wednesday, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending people avoid vaping as they continue their investigation into the deaths.

At least 450 people across the country have reported lung illnesses that state and federal investigators have linked to electronic devices used to vape nicotine and cannabis-based products. 

Federal and state investigators said last week one of the most common threads in reported cases of the „severe pulmonary disease” was street-purchased tetrahydrocannabinol or THC oil from marijuana that contained vitamin E acetate.

USA Today contributed to this report.