USA - Feds interested in death from 'morphine tea' from online vendor

[chillinwill]

MAYFIELD, Ky. -- State charges against an 18-year-old Mayfield man may be upgraded to federal charges in a case involving a mixed drink known as "morphine tea."

Graves Commonwealth Attorney David Hargrove says the U.S. Attorney's office has become interested in the case against Ethan Edwards, who is charged in the death of 17-year-old Adam Hogarty last August.

Hargrove tells the Paducah Sun the case allegedly involves poppies sent through the U.S. mail from Florida.

Police allege Edwards gave Hogarty "morphine tea," a drink containing codeine and morphine from poppies.

Edwards is scheduled to appear Monday in Graves Circuit Court for a pretrial conference. If the charges become federal, Edwards would face stiffer penalties.

Edwards has pleaded not guilty. His attorney, Royce Buck, did not immediately return phone calls requesting comment.

Associated Press
July 11, 2009
Kentucky.com
http://www.kentucky.com/471/story/859350.html

[UberDouche]

I can see two possible reasons the Feds might be interested here:

1) Controlled substance through the US Postal system, not good

2) An increased awareness of this practice; dried poppy flower arrangements disappear.

And probably some other reasons I'm not smart enough to conjecture upon