Each state still has some form of Cannabis in their own version of Schedule 1. “Legalization” didn’t change that.
They could end this massive uncontrolled new drug trial overnight. Not “THCa weed,” that’s just marijuana, but the stony noids synthesized from foreign hemp CBD. It appears the Grand Jury didn’t even know about the profoundly dirty nature of the products, full of bizarre contaminants.
“One particularly telling example involved a product purchased from a Chester County store labeled Lancaster County Cannabis, which claimed to contain CBD. Lab testing revealed it was marijuana, underscoring the deception and the inability of consumers to trust product labeling.
For most of the undercover buys, Corporal Wisnieski, and other members of his investigative team, wore a recording device to document the transactions. He shared a recording from a store in New Garden Township, Chester County, where the seller openly marketed the product as marijuana, even claiming it was “better than medical grade.” The seller also discussed how the Farm Bill created a loophole and uncertainty in the law that they were willing to exploit.
The investigation revealed just how lucrative this illegal trade has become. To date, upwards of $500,000 has been seized from these stores and related bank accounts. Because the stores claim their products are Farm Bill compliant, they are able to use banks to store their profits.”
“The Grand Jury Report outlined needed reforms that ranged from licensing smoke shops to establishing a minimum age for purchase to establishing testing requirements for the products themselves. The eight overarching recommendations are:
1. Protect Children
• Establish age requirement of 21 to purchase THC products (all types: gummies, vapes, edibles, oils and flower);
• Require electronic ID scanning to safeguard children;
• Regulate how THC products can be marketed (prohibit the use of packaging, flavors, and advertising strategies that target children or resemble familiar snack foods);
• Restrict the sales and marketing of THC products near schools, playgrounds, childcare facilities and other places where minors gather (similar to what is done with tobacco) within a defined distance, such as 1,000 feet).
2. Legislative Action Needed
• Legislation is urgently needed to fix the Farm Bill to clearly state that products containing Delta-8 and Delta-10 and similar components are subject to the same restrictions as marijuana itself;
• Establish regulations on dosage, standardized serving sizes and potency, along with comprehensive labeling, of THC products (The Report noted that most states limit single servings of THC products to 10 milligrams and packages to 100 milligrams.);
• Require unmistakable markings on all THC edibles to differentiate them for ease of identification to help curb accidental consumption;
• Implement robust warning labels on THC product packaging, providing clear guidance on safe usage including dosage information, serving size and time to feel onset of effects.
3. Regulate Smoke Shops
• Create a statewide licensing system (just as Pennsylvania requires licenses for the sale of tobacco and alcohol), which would allow for regular oversight, limit the number of smoke shops within defined geographic areas and establish a mechanism for holding store owners accountable;
• Require training for store owners/employees regarding product safety, legal responsibilities and age verification protocols;
• Routine inspection and enforcement conducted by regulatory agencies.
4. Ensuring Product Safety
• Mandatory, regular batch testing of THC levels and contaminants for all products sold in smoke shops by accredited labs;
• Create a centralized information system for retail oversight that includes a list of certified testing labs, results of testing and list of violating distributors and their products.
5. Public Education/Awareness Campaign About Risks of Unregulated THC Products
• Raise awareness about health risks of marijuana;
• Raise awareness about legal status and synthetic THC products in Pennsylvania;
• Publicize health risks associated with untested and mislabeled products, such as mental health effects, addiction potential and exposure to harmful substances such as lead and mold;
• Raise awareness about marketing tactics used to target youth and the importance of parental/community vigilance;
• Educate the public about the difference between regulated medical marijuana and unregulated retail products.
6. Investigation and Criminal Penalties for Distributors Illegally Selling Marijuana
• Direct enforcement of those distributors who are knowingly violating Pennsylvania law by illegally selling straight up marijuana to smoke shops, gas stations and convenience stores outside the boundaries of Pennsylvania law;
• Enforcement must be consistent and visible throughout the state.
7. Pitfalls to Avoid
• Examining the experiences of other regions led the Grand Jury to recommend against overtaxing THC products, which would lead consumers to purchase from street dealers;
• Adequately fund law enforcement with dedicated resources to ensure public safety and the resources to enforce new laws.
8. Legislation to Establish Civil Liability Laws
• THC product sellers should be held accountable when someone is harmed by a product that was mislabeled, untested or deceptively marketed or other negligence such as failure to enforce age restrictions.
As we review the truths that we have uncovered in our investigation, the testimony and our findings paint a clear picture that without immediate legislative action and stronger enforcement, our communities remain vulnerable to the unchecked spread of dangerous substances disguised as legal retail products.”
Read it at [107 pg PDF]: https://montgomerycountypa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/52407/Unregulated-Unsafe-and-Illegal–The-Reality-of-Smoke-Shops-in-Pennsylvania