2 charged after Surfside Beach police search cannabis store on Highway 17 Business

SURFSIDE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Two people are facing marijuana charges after Surfside Beach police searched a cannabis store on Highway 17 Business Thursday morning as part of a three-month-long investigation that focused on the sale of “unregulated and untested substances that were represented as hemp,” a spokesperson said.

Authorities charged Myrtle Beach residents Jason Joseph Papotto, 46, and Sabrena Lee Papotto, 45, with two counts of distribution of marijuana and two counts of distribution of marijuana in proximity to a school or park. The store, Delta Dispensary, is located in a strip mall at 327 N. Highway 17 Business.

“I was very curious. I’ve never been in there but as a resident, I’m going, ‘What in the world?'” Rebecca Floyd said. “They pay taxes. And, you know, I don’t know what’s happened, but I am very curious to find out.”

“A forensic analysis of these products indicates they are well in excess of the state-regulated limits for THC, containing significantly higher amounts of the compound and thus meeting the definition of marijuana,” spokesperson Tabitha Mull said in an email news release. “South Carolina statutes do not currently allow for the possession or sale of cannabis or hemp products that contain over .30 percent of THC.”

The origin of the substances remains under investigation, Mull said. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and “federal partners” assisted in the investigation.

“Now, if they’ve done something illegal, of course, they should have been closed,” Floyd said. “But have they been doing something illegal here, and how long has it been going on that we’re just now finding out?”

Mull initially said police were “law enforcement investigative activities” near the business and that there was no threat to the community.

One customer said police could be using their resources elsewhere.

“You know, you got people running around here crazy with firearms, going up in schools,” Curtis Harbour said. “We have problems with kids taking guns in school. This is petty compared to what’s going on in society.”

Another customer, Conner Mills, said he knows the owner personally and did not see this coming.

“I just hope they’re able to reopen, and, you know, I’m sure he’s got family that depends on the income of this place, and I just hope it doesn’t put too much of a dent in it,” Mills said.

News13 reached out to Delta Dispensary on Thursday, but haven’t heard back yet. We also asked for a comment from Mayor Robert Krouse and the town’s police chief, but were told both are not available until Friday.

This is a developing story. Count on News13 for updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.