In the span of only two days, authorities from Kansas Bureau of Investigation, along with the assistance of various local agencies conducted a statewide enforcement operation which netted a large amount of illegal marijuana products.
According to a press release from the KBI, they executed 18 separate search warrants in 11 different communities over the two days. The search warrants were executed at vape shops and CBD dispensaries in the communities of Wichita, Topeka, Salina, Great Bend, McPherson, Independence, Pratt, Abilene, Concordia, Sedan and Ulysses.
Local law enforcement agencies in each community assisted with the operation.
"Marijuana products that are prohibited by Kansas law, or were suspected to contain unlawful amounts of THC were seized," said KBI Spokesperson Melissa Underwood in the release.
According to Underwood, preliminary results of items seized during the operation included:
Flower, also known as marijuana bud, (weight in ounces and pounds): 5,494 ounces or 343.38 pounds
THC pre-rolls, also called pre-rolled joints, (number of items): 43,867
THC Vapes (number of items): 35,627
THC and psilocybin edibles (number of packages): 84,481
Currency: $35,436
Only two arrests were reported by KBI, both in Ulysses.
"Two subjects were arrested October 2, in Ulysses, for moving illegal THC products in order to evade law enforcement detection," Underwood said.
Those arrested were Gregory Reese, 63, and Tammy Reese, 59, both of Ulysses.
Gregory Reese was arrested at 12:15 p.m., at North Stubbs Road and East Road 9 in rural Grant County, according to Underwood.
"He was arrested for possession with the intent to distribute, unlawful possesssion of a controlled substance, possession of drug parapheranlia, interference with law enforcement and no Kansas drug tax stamp.
Tammy Reese was arrested 15 minutes later, at her shop, Reese's Enterprises, 119 West Oklahoma in Ulysses.
"She was arrested for distribution of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, interference with law enforcement, criminal use of a weapon, and no Kansas drug tax stamp," Underwood said.
Both Gregory and Tammy Reese were taken to the Grant County Jail after their arrests, where they posted bond and were released.
Kansas Highway Patrol stopped a vehicle at around 5 p.m., that same day.
"The Kansas Highway Patrol stopped a 20-foot box truck on U.S. Highway 400, near Fredonia," Underwood said. "The truck was transporting THC products that were removed from the shelves of 19 Kansas shops. KBI agents seized the truck and its contents, and are investigating what occurred."
The evidence seized in the search warrants is currently being tested.
“These illegal substances are in our homes, in our schools, and in the hands of our children. They are so widely-accessible that some Kansans are under the impression they are safe,” said KBI Director Tony Mattivi. “Anyone who sells illicit products poses a direct and unacceptable threat to the health and safety of our most vulnerable. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to remove these poisons from our streets.”
Attorney General Kris Kobach spoke on what happens next during a press conference in Topeka last Wednesday.
According to Kobach, upon the conclusion of these investigations, the KBI will submit case findings to the prosecutor of each jurisdiction to decide on potential charges. These charges could include unlawful distribution of controlled substances and possession of controlled substances with the intent to sell. Some charges could be felonies.
The laws are nothing new, they have just not been addressed properly. According to Kobach and Mattivi, enforcement of the state's laws on marijuana and THC have only been intermittently enforced or not enforced at all. In addition, they added, the state has received reports of kids showing up to emergency rooms with conditions caused by consumption of these products
"A young teen attempting to purchase tobacco would meet more resistance than they would if buying marijuana from one of the shops included in (the recent) operations," Kobach said.
Kobach said what the businesses in question have been doing is "brazen".
“These are brazen illegal activities," Kobach said. "Not only are many of these stores selling illegal THC vapes, they are also selling pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes. The law is the law in Kansas, and it will be enforced.”
According to the KBI and the Attorney General's office, the stores in question have been "documented to be selling THC vapes, THC-infused teas and consumable hemp products that contain more than a trace of THC (.3 percent or less), as well as marijuana bud, flower pre-rolled cigarettes, and other items containing suspected illegal concentrations of THC as prohibited in KSA 21-5705 and KSA 2-3908."
The operation investigating these types of businesses is ongoing and more search warrants may be executed at other locations.
Both Kobach and Mattivi mentioned that the "focus of these raids for charges will be on sellers and suppliers who have been allegedly selling the products, not consumers".
Ulysses Police Department assisted in the raids last week here.
Businesses raided thus far include:
October 1
EZ Smoke and Vape - 2011 N. West, Wichita
EZ Smoke and Vape - 997 S. Woodlawn, Wichita
Whiskey River Trading - 1230 E. 1st, Pratt
Cigarette Outlet - 702 E. 1st, Pratt
Pratt Tobacco and Vape - 301 S. Main, Pratt
Space Out Smoke Vapor & Tobacco - 2629 Market Place Suite C, Salina
Vapor 100 - 220 W. Crawford, Salina
Mountain Gypsy Vape Shop - 1584 Lincoln St., Concordia
The Hanging Leaf - 106 S. Main, McPherson
Sacred Leaf - 2201 SW Gage Blvd., Topeka.
Vapor 100 - 3717 Tenth St., Great Bend
Smoke N Vape -1807 Washington St, Great Bend
Abilene Vape and CBD - 2205 N. Buckeye Ave, Abilene
October 2
Canabolic - 564 S. Oliver, Wichita
Sedan One Stop - 301 West Main, Sedan
Indy Vapes - 223 N. Pennsylvania, Independence
νReese's Enterprises - 119 W. Oklahoma Ave, Ulysses
νTiger Vapes - 245 N. Colorado St., Ulysses
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