Police in Medford and Ashland raided three businesses on Thursday and seized thousands of dollars worth of products allegedly designed to help drug users pass urinalysis tests.

Officers also happened on more than a quarter-pound of marijuana and two firearms during a 1:30 p.m. raid at Zen Den at 280 Hersey St. in Ashland, said Medford police Lt. Tim George.

Doors also were locked Thursday afternoon while officers served search warrants at Magic Man Costume & Fun Shop at 920 Biddle Road in Medford and Puff’s Magazines & Fine Tobacco at 1908 Ashland St. in Ashland.

Synthetic urine and drinks that allegedly mask the presence of drugs in a person’s urine during a test were seized during Thursday’s raids, George said.

Magic Man owner John Hopf, 49, and store employee Thomas Wood, 42, were both cited on misdemeanor charges of providing drug-test falsification equipment. A citation will be issued to at least one person working at Puff’s, George said.

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At Zen Den, police found far more than products potentially used to pass drug tests. Officers seized from the business more than four ounces of marijuana, a shotgun, a .45-caliber sub-machine gun and $4,000 in cash. A suspect in the Zen Den case was still being sought late Thursday, George said.

"We know who we’re looking for," he said, declining to release the suspect’s name.

George said undercover officers visited all three businesses during the last month and bought illegal items while questioning store clerks about how the products could be used to pass drug tests.

"Not only were we buying this stuff, but the employees were telling us how to use it," George said. "If you’re a retailer, you ought to know if what you’re selling is illegal."

Hopf said he and his staff at Magic Man were unaware of the state law, passed in 2001.

"We had no idea (the products were illegal)," said Hopf. "We’ve had them here for at least four years. We sell these products every day, but it’s just a small part of our business."

Magic Man was closed for about two hours Thursday while police removed boxes full of seized items and placed them in an unmarked van.

"We located a substantial amount of product there," said George, adding that most of the seized items were sold for between $30 and $45 each.

During their investigation, undercover police officers purchased a bottle of synthetic urine and a bottle of liquid "cleansing" fluid from Magic Man. Synthetic urine was bought from Zen Den, while police obtained two bottles of drinks from Puff’s, George said.

Puff’s owner Mike Welch said police seized less than $100 worth of drinks during Thursday’s raid at his store. His was the only business of the three that did not stock synthetic urine, police said.

"They took what little I had," said Welch, who expects to receive a citation for offering the products. "It was definitely surprising. I did not think it was (illegal), or else I would not have sold it. I was under the impression it was legal as a food supplement. I keep my nose pretty stinking clean, but that doesn’t mean I’m right" about the law.

"I won’t sell it anymore," he said.

Welch and Hopf both maintain the items seized by police could have a variety of uses.

"You can use it for all sorts of things," Welch said. "When people come in for it, I don’t ask" how they plan to use it.

Phone calls made to Zen Den were not answered Thursday afternoon.

All three of the businesses targeted in Thursday’s raids also sell glass pipes marketed for tobacco smoking.

"That’s a charade," George said. "If we had evidence to support it, we would seize everything in there that’s intended for smoking. Those (pipes) are not used for tobacco. They’re used to smoke marijuana and methamphetamine, period."

Items seized Thursday were "on the shelf right next to the pipes," he said.

Hopf said he found it interesting that police were more interested in Magic Man’s selection of "vitamin-enriched drinks" than they were in the dozens of smoking devices on display.

"I would have been less surprised if they had taken the pipes," he said.

Oregon is one of 14 states with legislation outlawing drug-test falsification equipment, according to testimony provided in May to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee. California, Washington and Idaho are not included on the list.

Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail jmoran@mailtribune.com.