Statesville smoke shops sold marijuana products with illegal THC levels, sheriff says

Deputies in Iredell County say seven smoke shops in the Statesville area were busted for selling marijuana products with more THC than what’s allowed.

The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that investigators had been looking into the shops for about a month. The sheriff’s office had also gotten complaints that the stores sold items to “school-aged children.”

Deputies found “suspected marijuana, sold as hemp or CBD flower” but initial testing showed they had illegal levels of THC, which is the psychoactive substance that causes a high.

EXPLAINER: What kind of THC is legal in North Carolina?

The sheriff’s office says search warrants were served at the following stores:

• De Javu Vape Shop, 1402 Wilkesboro Highway
• 88 Tobacco and Vape, 942 Davie Avenue
• Tobacco and Vape, 1737 G Wilkesboro Highway
• EZ Path Smoth Shop, 1000 Davie Avenue
• Discount Tobacco Shop, 3454 E Broad Street
• The REC, 1800 Newton Drive
• Jimmy’s EZ Pass 1 Stop, 1206 W Front Street

About 20 pounds of marijuana products were seized from the stores, along with “664 pieces of counterfeit merchandise,” according to the sheriff’s office.

However, Channel 9′s Dave Faherty spoke with several of the businesses that said they’re careful not to sell to kids.

At 88 Tobacco and Vape, one employee showed Faherty where an entire case of merchandise is now empty. Workers say the store believed they were legal to sell to the public.

“Our distributor specifically gets this stuff third-party tested, and all of the jars come third-party tested,” said Jay, an employee.

“We are surely not targeting young children. I don’t want this for young children, this is not for children, this is for adults, that’s why there are signs on the door,” said Elexis Levan at Deja Vu Vapes.

Sam Cadre at Tobacco and Vape said he checks all customers’ IDs.

No criminal charges or arrests were announced, but the sheriff’s office says the investigation is still ongoing.

(VIDEO: NC legislators looking at more regulations for vape shops)