Not if the quotes in the article are accurate. I mean he did tell the guy he was going to use the pills to make dope...
And I suppose if he had wanted gas for his lawnmower and the cop said he told the old dude that he really wanted to blow up the Empire State building that would be grounds for prosecution as well?
Or, what if he had told the old dude he needed ammonia and Clorox so he could make some phosgene gas he'd be haulded off to jail by your reasoning as a small sacrifice to freedom?