Raid on Dallas-area dispensary sends chilling reminder to industry
A raid on a hemp dispensary in Garland, TX is an unfortunate reminder of the real legal risks associated with selling legally dubious high-THC products.
Both the owner and store manager of Bee Hippy Hemp were arrested on June 7 and charged with marijuana trafficking, after Garland Police and Dallas DEA agents reportedly seized over 200 pounds of products containing “illegal levels of THC.”
Garland police called the test results “alarming” and stated that some products had THC levels over 95%. Unfortunately, specific details about the seized products weren’t covered in the release. I’ve sent a request to Garland Police seeking more information about the types of products, as well as information concerning the search warrants. It may take several weeks to get information on the search warrants.
However, a review of Bee Hippy Hemp’s website shows a robust catalog featuring many designer THCs, including high THCa vape cartridges.
Texas Hemp Growers has previously warned its members and the public about certain substances that will practically guarantee they (and their customers) will face a felony charge if raided or arrested:
- THCa is the newest trend on the retail market, with some retailers switching entirely to high THCa products. This is alarming for the reasons described in this past article, notably that law enforcement’s method of testing seized products converts THCa to delta-9 THC. If any product has the potential to produce a felony that sticks, it’s the high-THCa products. Similarly, if you are carrying or selling “infused” hemp flowers or pre-rolls with 25% THCa, it will show up as 25% delta-9 THC in law enforcement’s test. Surprise! You’re now trafficking marijuana. The onus and financial expense are on you to prove your innocence in court.
- Their website also shows several HHC products, which we’ve also confirmed are not legal in Texas. The Texas Department of State Health Services considers HHC a synthetic cannabinoid under the state’s current controlled substances list. This classification is not protected by the court injunction protecting delta-8 and hemp-derived THCs. This is because DSHS knows the process for deriving HHC involves hydrogenation, which is what causes its classification as synthetic, in their view.
While some lawyers aggressively defend the legality of these products, I wonder if they have offered pro bono legal services to Bee Hippy Hemp? I also wonder if the manufacturers and distributors that sold this retailer a bill of false hope will be donating to its legal defense fund?
It has become apparent to me that there are bad actors in the areas of manufacturing and distribution who are lying to their customers in order to make a sale. Unsurprisingly, they’re missing in action in situations like this, which should be enough to concern any retailer. You should not take their word at face value. Do your own research and trust your gut.
One surefire way to know if a product is safe to sell is to join Texas Hemp Growers and then use our Customer Service Hotline to inquire about your product. We’ll be happy to provide honest feedback about the legality of any hemp product.
