Ashland couple defends sales of cure-all bleach
MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - An Oregon couple accused of selling a diluted version of industrial bleach as a cure for cancer, earaches and other maladies claims the federal government can't touch them because the product was sold to a private health association protected by free-speech and other constitutional rights.
Prosecutors call such claims misguided, the Medford Mail Tribune reported.
In federal court filings, Louis Daniel Smith, 42, and Karis Delong, 38, of Ashland say the production and sale of "Miracle Mineral Supplement" through their online company, Project GreenLife, was protected because the product was offered only to members of a "First Amendment Private Health Care Association."
Because it's a private association, they say, they are beyond the regulatory power of agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration, which is charged with protecting public health.
The case is in federal court in Spokane, Wash., where Project GreenLife operated. The defendants are accused of smuggling their product's active ingredient, sodium chlorite, from Canada. The company was shut down after a 2011 FDA raid in Spokane.
Also accused were a couple from Nine Mile Falls, Wash.: Chris Olson, 49, and Tammy Olson, 50. The four were indicted on charges of conspiracy, interstate sales of misbranded drugs and smuggling.
Prosecutors say the Miracle Mineral Supplement was a mixture of water and sodium chlorite. Buyers were told to mix the solution with citric acid to form chlorine dioxide, an industrial chemical used to bleach textiles and disinfect wastewater, according to court records.
Labeling on the chemical says it should never be ingested because it can cause digestive tract burning, nausea, diarrhea and dehydration, the Tribune reported. If inhaled, it can cause respiratory distress, lung congestion and possibly death.
The defendants argue the indictment doesn't claim the product sickened or harmed anyone, so any investigation is unwarranted.
Prosecutors argued in filings last week that Smith and Delong can't give themselves a shield to operate illegally just by declaring their operation is private, not public. The prosecutors also said the indictments were not based on the beliefs of the defendants.
"The defendant's misguided views of the grand jury's jurisdiction are also without support in the law," federal prosecutor Christopher Parisi wrote.
They should be sentenced to drink their own products until all signs of all illness on them are illuminated.  They would be vindicated as they would have proven their remedy is sound.
Should've just sold flouride to dimwitted city councils
Snake oil sales people never seem to go away. They then find gullible to buy their snake oil. Hopefully, federal court will put them out of business.
It's really too bad we don't have chain gangs for these pukes. I think all their customers should be advised to file small claims cases against them. It would be better to beat them with baseball bats, but that would be illegal.
@OCJohn Many of their customers are dead....the ones who fell for the "cures cancer" schtick.
"First Amendment Private Health Care Association... Because it's a private association, they say, they are beyond the regulatory power of agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration, which is charged with protecting public health."
Penetrating legal analysis. Almost as good as their medical expertise...
@Max Quinn Has the FDA approved medical marijuana
From the wikipedia page:
Sellers attribute the vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea to the product working, but it is simply the product's toxicity.[24]
I guess death implies that it's REALLY working.
Another term of this supplement is called MMS. I go on to online health forums to help people think out their health problems and I have seen a few people really promote this product. The funny thing is, it actually works or it causes severe damage...I have not made up my mind on it yet.Â
However whenever someone posts about it, it doesn't last long because the government shuts down any mention of it online. This makes me think either its really dangerous, or its really effective...they sure go ape %^&% about MMS! And this also shows that they censor people widely over this product...
@portlandborn83Â Of course it's effective. Â Ever hear of someone complaining about their cancer after they've died from injecting bleach? Â
No, you haven't.
@Festivus @portlandborn83 Actually I talk to dead people all of the time (lol)...
I'd rather take selenium than this stuff, almost all people who have cancer are deficient in selenium.
The irony is the FDA claims GMO's are perfectly safe, yet no long term studies have ever been conducted on them.
That's funny that you mention that. I was just thinking that the other side of the argument keeps making claims that are also unsupported. Interesting how that works, eh?
these people are waaaaay out there....their attempts at claiming protection guaranteed by the constitution to sell a product that WILL harm  humans is laughable except for the fact they are serious that they haven't hurt anyone with their product.
I'm hoping someone keeps an eye on them...pretty obviuos their next step would be using cyanide mixed with pepsi...because everyone knows their "product" is a gateway cure.
As I said before, my friend's dad purchased and used this product when he became so uncomfortable during chemo...and because he was upset about losing his hair. Â I believe it was working in curing his cancer, right up until he died. Â But other than that one little side effect, it's a miracle cure, for sure.