Elyria police executed a search warrant at Exotic Flower, a business located at 1600 Middle Avenue, on April 25, 2025. Police said the store was operating as a suspected unlicensed drug dispensary. This is the first investigation of its kind in Lorain County.
The Elyria Police Department’s Narcotics and Detective Bureau led the operation. According to their official statement, officers seized several pounds of suspected marijuana, a handgun with an extended magazine, suspected psilocybin (a hallucinogenic drug found in certain mushrooms and classified as a Schedule I controlled substance), and U.S. currency from the scene.
The storefront displays signs advertising “Legal THC Carts” and “CBD, Pre-rolls, 21+.” No official license to sell controlled substances was mentioned in the statement.
Police Chief James P. Welsh said felony charges are expected against the operator of the business once the investigation is complete.
“Drug trafficking and the violence associated with it will not be tolerated in the city of Elyria,” Welsh stated. He also said the department will continue to target individuals responsible for selling drugs in the community.
The investigation is ongoing. More details will be provided as they become available.