SURFSIDE, S.C. (WPDE) — New details are available about the CBD dispensary that was raided Thursday in Surfside Beach.
Surfside Beach Police Chief, Kenneth Davis told ABC15 that it started with people getting pulled over and being charged with marijuana possession.
Those people told officers their purchases came from the Delta Dispensary located at 327 North Highway 17.
Then, another tip came in.
“Information was shared with us through our federal partners regarding some substances that were destined for a local dispensary that we’re speaking of,” said Davis.
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That’s when they began a three-month investigation involving an undercover officer.
“We had an officer make several purchases of substances there that were submitted to SLED for testing and analysis at the forensic laboratory at SLED. The testing came back in excess of the legal limit of THC,” said Chief Davis.
The lead detective in the case, who couldn’t reveal his name, said while serving their search warrant Thursday, they found more than ten pounds of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana.
He added that it was identical to the stuff they sent off for testing and believed the bust was necessary to keep consumers safe.
“They’re thinking they’re purchasing hemp, and actually purchasing marijuana, and we are the family beach. We want to keep it that way and we won’t tolerate that,” said the lead detective on the investigation.
Jason Papotto was charged with two counts of distribution of marijuana and two counts of distribution of marijuana in proximity to a school or park.
Sabrena Papotto was charged with one count each of the same charges.
Chief Davis said additional charges will be filed.
Surfside also currently has a moratorium on vape shops, and while that doesn’t necessarily include dispensaries, the Mayor of Surfside said this is the exact thing for which they are watching.
“We’ve put a moratorium on them for six months while we sort out this issue so we can get them defined properly,” said the Mayor of Surfside Beach Robert Krouse. He added, “Basically, we’re saying vape products, cannabis products anything related to that is what we’re looking at.
The owner of a different dispensary in Forestbrook agrees that a lot of places are selling products that they just don’t know what’s in them.
“There’s a lot of people relying on plausible deniability. Just kind of not knowing what they sell. Similar products are for sale in convenience stores throughout Horry County, and those people are relying on representatives that come in and say, ‘These are legal products.’ So, there’s a lot of ways that things kind of slip off the rails as far as compliance and accountability, and right now, there’s not a lot of oversight,” said Matt Campbell Sr., the Owner of CannaBetter Farm.
Campbell said it’s a dispensary’s responsibility to make sure the products they sell are safe.
That’s why he won’t put a new product on the shelf without independently verifying it in a lab multiple times.
“We don’t believe anybody. We use trust but verify. We don’t believe anybody until we’ve checked them two or three times. Then we say, ‘Okay, this guy is reliable.’ And if we can’t rely on them, we don’t want to do business with them,” said Campbell Sr.
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The owner of CannaBetter Farms added that if people are looking to buy CBD products, they shouldn’t be afraid to ask for paperwork.
Each of the products should have paperwork showing you what’s in them so that way you know exactly what you’re purchasing.
The Operator of CannaBetter Farms said they always have their paperwork ready for people, but most don’t ask.
“We occasionally get customers who are coming from places where it’s well regulated, and they have a good understanding of what’s going on, and they request paperwork occasionally. But generally speaking, there are not a lot of consumers that are worried about that documentation,” said Matt Campbell Jr., the Operator of CannaBetter Farm.
South Carolina statutes do not currently allow for the possession or sale of cannabis or hemp products that contain over .30 percent of THC.
The origin of these substances remains under investigation.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and other federal partners assisted in the investigation, which remains ongoing.
New details are available about the CBD dispensary that was raided Thursday in Surfside Beach.Surfside Beach Police Chief, Kenneth Davis told ABC15 that it star Read More