Sheriff: Vape pens, cartridges with THC causing overdoses in minors

DAYTON — The Rhea County Sheriff’s Department, in conjunction with the state’s Dangerous Drug Task Force, is cracking down on retailers who sell vape pens, cartridges and other items that contain THC to minors, according to Rhea County Sheriff Mike Neal.

On Wednesday May 8, 2024, Rhea County Sheriff’s Department investigators and deputies, along with members of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Tennessee’s Dangerous Drugs Task Force, served a search warrant on Tammy’s Treasures, located at 1459 Railroad Street in Dayton.

Neal said that agents used specialized equipment provided by the task force to test multiple products offered for sale at this business.

“Items of interest were vape pens, cartridges and items listing THC or mushrooms, as well as edibles and products packaged to look like candy,” Neal said. “All items that were tested exceeded the 0.3 percent THC content than is allowed in the State of Tennessee. Due to testing results, investigators contacted the 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and all items containing the tested substances were seized and removed from the business.”

Neal reports that his school resource deputies have responded to five overdoses this school year, and that one student had to be administered Narcan and all were transported to the emergency room for medical treatment.

Neal also saidthat his deputies have written 43 Juvenile Court citations and school resource deputies have written over 80 citations that were handled by the school system in conjunction with the juvenile court system.

“My office has received multiple complaints from parents, grandparents and other family members of businesses in the county selling to underage youth,” Neal said. “My deputies have been involved in investigating these complaints as well as working with the school resource deputies to find the types of vape pens and products that are being sold to the youth in our community. Investigators will follow up on any information submitted to us to stop the sale of narcotics to our children.”

Rhea Country Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy John Argo said the recent seizure of illegal narcotics at Tammy’s Treasures on Wednesday is still under investigation.