 ENFORCEMENT – THE HITS THAT MATTERED
Lexington, KY — 4 vape shops hit, 600+ lbs seized.
Coordinated warrants pulled 600+ pounds of marijuana/hemp flower, $210K cash, and multiple firearms from metro shops. Trafficking charges are in play. If you’re in a “safe” market, stop kidding yourself.Â
Coordinated warrants pulled 600+ pounds of marijuana/hemp flower, $210K cash, and multiple firearms from metro shops. Trafficking charges are in play. If you’re in a “safe” market, stop kidding yourself.Â
Norwalk, CT — second raid in weeks + license action.
Police raided Smokey Bear Smoke Shop, seizing ~3 lbs of THC products and nitrous bottles. Earlier, state regulators suspended R&R Smoke Shop’s e-cigarette registration after four failed inspections and child-appeal packaging. Translation: nicotine license ≠cannabis pass.Â
Police raided Smokey Bear Smoke Shop, seizing ~3 lbs of THC products and nitrous bottles. Earlier, state regulators suspended R&R Smoke Shop’s e-cigarette registration after four failed inspections and child-appeal packaging. Translation: nicotine license ≠cannabis pass.Â
Boise, ID — “we warned you” arrest playbook.
After months of “education,” BPD arrested two operators tied to vape/glass locations for felony distribution and paraphernalia. Education isn’t immunity; it’s a countdown.Â
After months of “education,” BPD arrested two operators tied to vape/glass locations for felony distribution and paraphernalia. Education isn’t immunity; it’s a countdown.Â
Pointe Coupee, LA — fentanyl pills, guns, illegal vapes.
Rural parish, big-city charges: raid uncovers fentanyl pills disguised as Rx, a handgun, and illegal vapes; a related case showed kratom bags seized in a linked store sweep. If your backroom can’t pass a narcotics sniff test, you’re already cooked.Â
Rural parish, big-city charges: raid uncovers fentanyl pills disguised as Rx, a handgun, and illegal vapes; a related case showed kratom bags seized in a linked store sweep. If your backroom can’t pass a narcotics sniff test, you’re already cooked.Â
Tyrrell County, NC — small market, big haul.
Deputies seized 3.6 lbs marijuana, mushroom gummies, nitrous inhalants, paraphernalia, and cash from a Columbia shop after a month-long probe. Rural doesn’t mean invisible.Â
Deputies seized 3.6 lbs marijuana, mushroom gummies, nitrous inhalants, paraphernalia, and cash from a Columbia shop after a month-long probe. Rural doesn’t mean invisible.Â
California — seizure list keeps growing.
CDTFA posted new seizure notices (Aug 8) hitting Bay Area shops for illicit tobacco/cannabis stock. If your paperwork isn’t air-tight, the list is your future.
CDTFA posted new seizure notices (Aug 8) hitting Bay Area shops for illicit tobacco/cannabis stock. If your paperwork isn’t air-tight, the list is your future.
 POLICY & RISK – WHAT CHANGED THE GAME
7-OH (kratom derivative) just became a federal priority.
On July 29, FDA recommended scheduling 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) as Schedule I—the same tier as heroin. It’s showing up in gummies, beverages, vapes sold through c-stores and smoke shops. If you carry kratom-branded “wellness” products, audit them yesterday.Â
On July 29, FDA recommended scheduling 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) as Schedule I—the same tier as heroin. It’s showing up in gummies, beverages, vapes sold through c-stores and smoke shops. If you carry kratom-branded “wellness” products, audit them yesterday.Â
Signal from abroad: organized crime loves tobacco/vape.
Perth, Australia logged multiple shootings and arson attacks at tobacco shops over three days—police calling it an extortion/turf war pattern tied to illicit trade. When margins meet prohibition, violence follows the product. Don’t be adjacent to that mess.Â
Perth, Australia logged multiple shootings and arson attacks at tobacco shops over three days—police calling it an extortion/turf war pattern tied to illicit trade. When margins meet prohibition, violence follows the product. Don’t be adjacent to that mess.Â
 WHAT’S GETTING SHOPS IN TROUBLE (AGAIN)
-
Kid-appeal packaging (cartoons, candy look-alikes). Instant magnet for regulators.
-
Nitrous sitting next to THC. Raids are grabbing them together; treat nitrous like a controlled item (21+, signage, limits). “Educated but non-compliant” operators. After warnings come felonies—Boise is your case study. Gray-market disposables / “gadget” vapes. CBP/FDA seizures continue; if it looks like a toy/phone/highlighter, it’s a liability. (Pair this with your own inventory audit.)
 ACTION LIST — DO THESE BEFORE NEXT WEEK
-
Purge 7-OH and mystery kratom extracts. Ask for batch-level COAs that specifically quantify 7-OH. No COA, no shelf.Â
-
Separate and lock down nitrous. 21+ policy, posted warnings, purchase limits, and a manager-only key.Â
-
Vape audit: Remove unapproved disposables and anything with “gadget” camouflage. Keep documentation for what you pulled (date, SKU, qty).
-
Packaging cleanup: Eliminate youth-appeal designs—especially on hemp/THC look-alikes.Â
-
Paperwork drill: Put your licenses, permits, COAs, tax certs in one binder (and a cloud folder). When they knock, you win on minute one.
-
Security: KY/LA playbook. More cameras, longer retention, quick access. Cash handling logs and drop safes—those seizures followed the money.Â
-
Neighbor risk check:Â If a plaza-mate is sloppy, distance yourself publicly (signage/policy) and privately (landlord emails saved).
 CHAD’S BOTTOM LINE
If you’re still treating this business like a hobby, this week should’ve cured that.
Regulators are taking product. Cops are taking cash. Prosecutors are taking freedom.
The shops that survive are boringly compliant, aggressively documented, and ruthless about what they refuse to sell.
Regulators are taking product. Cops are taking cash. Prosecutors are taking freedom.
The shops that survive are boringly compliant, aggressively documented, and ruthless about what they refuse to sell.
Stay ruthless. Stay legal. Stay open.
— Chad Wade | ChadWadeTV.com