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Minn. Seller Of Synthetic Drugs Makes No Apologies

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) -- Jim Carlson is not the only person who sells synthetic drugs in Minnesota.

But his skirmishes with the city of Duluth and his outspoken nature have thrust the owner of Last Place on Earth to the fore of what officials view as a new threat to public health.

Carlson says his incense is legal and doesn't contain any banned substances. But police say the incense is illegal because Minnesota law also bans lookalikes of those substances. He is currently challenging the Minnesota law, which took effect July 1.

He says he knows he's operating in a "gray area" but he'll continue to fight for people's rights to buy what they want.

Law enforcement and health professionals say synthetic drugs are dangerous. Officials have linked two Minnesota deaths to the drugs.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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