Detectives from the Pine Bluff Police Department’s Vice & Narcotics Division have been investigating smoke shops in the city for selling marijuana products mislabeled as legal hemp, specifically THC-A.
Despite shop owners citing compliance with Arkansas law permitting hemp-derived cannabidiol products with no more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC, lab tests showed products with THC concentrations above legal limits, some reaching 1% or more.
In response, detectives seized THC-A labeled flower products from all known smoke shops, submitting them for state crime lab analysis. Once confirmed illegal, cease-and-desist orders were issued to shop owners, requiring immediate removal of these products.
Some businesses complied, while others continued selling the items and now face potential criminal charges.
While THC-A itself is not psychoactive, it converts to Delta-9 THC when heated, becoming a Schedule VI controlled substance if exceeding 0.3% THC.
Arkansas law prohibits selling such products without a medical marijuana license. The state’s legal stance, reinforced by Senate legislation and the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office, clarifies that psychoactive hemp derivatives are not considered legal hemp products.
Retailers are urged to remove THC-A flower products and chemically altered cannabinoids exceeding legal THC limits to avoid prosecution. Consumers should be cautious, as products labeled “THC-A” or “hemp” that produce psychoactive effects likely violate state laws.
For inquiries or to report illegal activity, contact the Pine Bluff Police Department Vice & Narcotics Division at 870-543-5119. The department is committed to public safety and legal compliance.
