Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers announced Monday that his office issued cease-and-desist letters to 12 retail locations and franchised stores that sell synthetic THC-containing products in Auburn, Beatrice, Columbus, Plattsmouth, Schuyler, Tecumseh and York.
Hilgers said his office has now sent cease-and-desist letters to every known retail store in Nebraska that sells THC products alerting them to the “illegal and unlawful” products being sold.
The letters sent to the stores claim that many of the THC-containing products their companies sell misrepresent the concentrations and types of THC contained in the products, making product labeling deceptive, unfair and unsafe.
Hilger’s office is demanding that each store cease all sales of THC-containing products and return a signed Assurance of Voluntary Compliance document to avoid litigation. Stores that refuse may face litigation, penalties or fees to the fullest extent allowed by law.
"We have now put every store on notice of the unlawful and illegal products being sold. When necessary, we will seek penalties to the fullest extent of the law and will refer for criminal prosecution,” Hilgers said in a news release Monday. “Many stores have come to the table to resolve these enforcement efforts."
The investigation reportedly uncovered sales of marijuana, psilocin, and psilocin analogues, the sales of which are felonies. The Attorney General's office said it will provide the evidence to local county attorneys for consideration of criminal charges.
The Attorney General’s Office said in the news release that to date it has sent cease-and-desist letters to the companies that own approximately 300 retail stores in Nebraska and has filed 16 lawsuits alleging violations of the Consumers Protection Act for unfairness and deception, as well as the Nebraska Pure Food Act.
The office reported that 12 of the 16 lawsuits have been settled, while 24 companies have signed the Assurance of Voluntary Compliance.