Police: Teen found with thousands of dollars worth of cannabis oil and vaping devices in St. Helena

Police in St. Helena seized thousands of dollars worth of concentrated cannabis oil and vaping products on May 7, officials said, after receiving tips from parents and students.

According to Wenner Massella, St. Patrick’s School Resource Specialist. Helena, tips helped officers locate the vehicle of a teenage boy suspected of illegally selling products.

The boy from Calistoga posted information on Snapchat to his followers that he was going to St. Patrick’s Island that day. Helena and asked them to “start placing orders,” Massella said.

Officer Carlos Lopez was conducting an unrelated check of an area along St. James Drive when he recognized the boy’s vehicle and, along with Massella, stopped it.

Massella said he smelled marijuana in the car and there was drug paraphernalia and vaping devices in sight. The boy also had no powers.

Police did not release the boy’s age but said he was a minor.

He was in the car with two other people, but was the only one arrested. According to the police, he was interrogated and handed over to his parents.

Police found approximately 200-300 packaged vaping devices containing nicotine and cannabis oil. Although police did not provide an amount, the total street value of the products was estimated to be “in the high thousands of dollars.”

The items included a box containing FRYD brand disposable cannabis oil, which can be purchased online for $1,200 per gram. One rechargeable vaping device can cost anywhere from $25 to $50.

According to city records, this is the first arrest of a minor in connection with controlled substances on St. Patrick’s Island. Helena over the last five years. Since 2019, there have been seven controlled substance arrests in the city.

“Students are attracted to these products because of their taste and lack of a strong tobacco odor,” Massella said of the products.

The California Healthy Kids Survey found that 19% of 11th grade students in Napa Valley reported using electronic cigarettes between 2017 and 2019. The anonymous survey allows schools to collect and analyze data on youth health risks and behaviors.

As a result of the department’s work, “a large amount of e-cigarette products have been removed from the streets that were intended solely for the illegal sale and consumption by minors in our community,” the city said in a statement.