A nearly yearlong investigation into illegal sales of marijuana products has led to a seizure of 45 pounds, Pine Bluff police reported Thursday.
Police said in a news release some businesses continued to sell illegal items after being issued cease-and-desist orders to immediately remove all illegal products from their shelves and stop further sales. Those businesses have been referred to the Jefferson County prosecutor’s office and face criminal charges, according to police, but no suspects or businesses have been announced.
Prosecuting Attorney Kyle Hunter said a case file has been submitted from the Pine Bluff Police Department for his office to review over the next few days.
“We’ll have to determine who committed a crime and what crime, and then determine what’s appropriate after that,” Hunter said, when asked whether just individuals or entire businesses will be charged.
Detectives with the PBPD’s Vice and Narcotics Division have been investigating smoke shops across the city since June 25, 2024, according to a news release. It was suspected one or more of the smoke shops were illegally selling marijuana products under false representation of legal hemp specifically labeled as THC-A, a type of tetrahydrocannabinol.
“During this investigation, many shop owners claimed they believed they complied with Arkansas law, referencing Arkansas State Statue § 5-64-215, which permits the sale of hemp-derived cannabidiol products containing no more than 0.3% Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on a dry weight basis,” police said. “However, lab results from the Arkansas State Crime Lab revealed that products seized from these establishments contained THC concentrations well above the legal threshold, some testing at 1% or greater, making them illegal under Arkansas law.”
Police said Vice and Narcotics detectives visited every known smoke shop in Pine Bluff and seized all flower products labeled as THC-A.
“Once the lab confirmed that the THC levels in these products exceeded the lawful limit, detectives returned to the shops to issue cease-and-desist orders, instructing owners to immediately remove all illegal products from their shelves and cease further sales,” police said.
Police said the public should be aware THC-A, although it is not psychoactive, converts to Delta-9 THC when it is combusted or heated, “as occurs when smoking or vaping.” Delta-9 THC is psychoactive and classified as a Schedule VI controlled substance if it exceeds 0.3% on a dry weight basis, police added. Any synthetically converted THC products including Delta-8, Delta-10 and various acetate esters are considered marijuana cannot be legally sold without a medical marijuana license, according to police.
“This includes products falsely marketed as hemp but chemically altered to mimic the effects of marijuana,” police said.
It was reported the confusion surrounding THC-A products stem from a misinterpretation of federal hemp laws including the 2018 Farm Bill. Police say Arkansas has its own laws that more narrowly define what is legal.
“We urge all retailers to immediately remove THC-A flower products and any chemically altered cannabinoid products from their shelves if they exceed legal THC limits,” police said. “Continuing to sell these substances places shop owners and employees at risk of prosecution. Consumers are also advised to be cautious. Just because a product is labeled as ‘THC-A’ or ‘hemp ‘does not make it legal. If it gets you high, it likely violates Arkansas controlled substance laws.”
If any questions or to report suspected illegal activity: Vice and Narcotics Division, (870) 543-5119.
A nearly yearlong investigation into illegal sales of marijuana products has led to a seizure of 45 pounds, Pine Bluff police reported Thursday. Read More
