LYNCHBURG, Va. (WDBJ) – The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Office of Hemp Enforcement will now require retailers selling edible or smokable hemp products to register their stores.
Our Target 7 team has reported on the dozens of stores across the commonwealth that have been fined for selling illegal hemp and cannabis products, since new guidelines went into effect in July 2023.
A spokesperson for VDACS said the Office of Hemp Enforcement will now oversee the registration of smokable and edible hemp.
This allows them to ensure stores are following the new laws in place to regulate potentially dangerous hemp products.
The stores must obtain a Hemp Product Retail Facility Registration before the new year. Stores will also be required to renew their registrations each year, and pay $1,000.
If retailers are selling hemp products without registration, they could face a civil penalty.
Registration opened Friday, November 15, 2024 for stores selling edible or smokable hemp, and penalty enforcement will begin after December 31, 2024.
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