OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Last August, county officials began investigating CBD shops across the state. They found that some companies were selling Delta-8 products containing illegal levels of Delta-9 THC.
“This is a truly unregulated substance right now, and a lot of people don't know what they're buying or ingesting,” said Sheriff Aaron Hanson of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. .
Delta-8 is made from hemp plants that can be legally grown in Nebraska. The exception is that Delta-9 contains less than 0.3 percent THC.
Delta-8 products found in Sarpy County tested up to 15%.
“That's the discussion we want to foster,” Hanson said. “How can we find ways to better regulate substances that can potentially impact people's health, physical health and mental health?”
That's what the changes to LB999 are for. Growing hemp remains legal in Nebraska, but farmers will need a permit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The license would allow farmers to continue selling cannabis, but not for consumption, according to the bill's sponsors.
This will prohibit the sale of Delta-8 in CBD shops.
“To be honest, I’m a little angry,” said Marissa Montalvo, manager of Vape CBD Kratom Smoke Shop. “A lot of people don't use it for pain, not just for entertainment. And a lot of people can't get pain relief any other way.”
Montalvo told 6News such a bill would be a huge blow to her business.
“We have this much line-up of just Delta products, and that accounts for 40 to 45 percent of our sales here,” Montalvo said.
Montalvo believes that stores like hers, which follow current laws, don't have to pay for someone else's actions.
“It's the store's responsibility to research the products they're selling,” Montalvo said. “They have to sell what they're considering.”
The overall purpose of the bill is to protect people from consuming products with which they are unfamiliar, according to those involved in its development.
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