MENOMONEE FALLS – The owner of a Menomonee Falls CBD store says authorities raided his store and arrested him this week for selling products he believes are legal.
The owner of Superstar Buds says he was told by Waukesha County detectives that they had been buying products from him undercover since January and test results showed they had an illegal amount of THC.
The Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Friday that they began an investigation after becoming aware of a non-fatal overdose incident involving two small children who inadvertently ingested a CBD-related product. The sheriff’s office says the suspected product was purchased by the parent of Superstar Buds’ kids.
The sheriff’s office says researchers have obtained evidence that Superstar Buds sold products containing banned levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The agency says these products were labeled by the company as CBD or delta-8-THC.
Superstar Buds in Menomonee Falls looks like it’s been hit by a tornado, but the owner says it’s the aftermath of a police raid.
“It’s a disaster at the moment. We’ve probably seized more than $ 100,000 in damage from stuff they destroyed. I mean, it’s just a disaster, ”said Chris S., the owner of Superstar Buds.
Superstar buds
Chris says dozens of agents poured into his store and confiscated his best-selling product, Delta 8 THC. He says his other items, such as CBD and hemp flower, were destroyed in the process.
“This is soaking wet. They don’t want us to sell this stuff, ”he says.
Chris says he and one of his associates were arrested on the day of the arrest and released 24 hours later pending several felony charges.
“We move a lot of Delta 8, so I feel like we were targeted because we push a lot in the market.”
This is where things get confusing. Delta 8 THC is derived from hemp, while Delta 9 THC is derived from marijuana. State and federal laws both prohibit Delta 9 THC with a potency greater than 0.3 percent, but the laws do not mention Delta 8 at all.
“Delta 8 only binds to your CB1 receptors, so it doesn’t give you that cloudy feeling, but it still produces a happy, euphoric feeling, you just feel happy,” said Chris.
Superstar buds
Chris is far from the only Delta 8 salesman in Wisconsin. Several CBD stores in Milwaukee have been selling the product in the form of flowers, vaping cartridges and oils for about a year now. Hazy Dayz owner Zach Rowe also believes it is legal.
“According to the 2018 Farm Bill, all hemp derivatives and isomers of the cannabis plant, except Delta 9, are technically legal,” said Rowe.
Back in Menomonee Falls, the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office says they are in charge of the case and have issued a search warrant with the help of Menomonee Falls police.
The sheriff’s office said in its statement on Friday that in executing that search warrant, investigators seized other company products labeled as CBD or delta-8-THC that are believed to contain banned amounts of delta-9 THC. .
The Bureau adds that three people have been arrested at the company in connection with this search warrant. The charges will be filed with the Waukesha County district attorney’s office at a future date, according to the sheriff’s office.
Chris gave TMJ4 News a copy of the search warrant he received when he was arrested. It says law enforcement officials have the right to confiscate any items containing tetrahydrocannabinol, known as THC.
According to the arrest warrant, the alleged crimes included possession with intent to supply, produce THC, and sustain a drug trade.
“The law is crystal clear that it is currently banned in the state of Wisconsin,” said Pewaukee State Representative Adam Neylon.
Sean Gallup
The Wisconsin hemp pilot program for 2018 was passed by the legislature with almost unanimous support, including a ‘yes’ vote from Neylon. He believes CBD store owners misunderstand the difference between federal and state law.
“I think some of the owners of these CBD stores are relying on federal law to make their case, when in the state of Wisconsin it is in fact very clear that none of these products, CBD or THC products with psychoactive ingredients should be sold in them, ”he said.
Neylon says he doesn’t believe the confusion should lead to arrests. He believes an educational approach would suffice.
“This is a difficult situation and I want to say and I want to make it clear that these are not drug dealers that we are talking about,” said Neylon. “These are legitimate entrepreneurs and I think the problem is just a misunderstanding of the law. So I think we need to better educate and educate them about what is legal and what is not legal. “
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