LYNCHBURG, Va. (WDBJ) – Over the past several years, the market for synthetic cannabis and hemp-derived products has exploded.
Carilion Physician Paul Stromberg says it’s important for parents and kids today to understand what they are, as we navigate changing legislation regarding cannabis and other drugs sold in stores.
“There are lots of things out there that are not legally sold in the United States or are kind of under a murky legal status that are certainly out there so its important to know what you’re buying and read the ingredients,” Stromberg told WDBJ7.
Some of the products have high levels of THC, far beyond what is legal.
“It’s imitation products that are made synthetically in a lab that get you high they’re intoxicating they have high amounts of THC and as they became more and more available to kids more kids were taking them and getting sick,” said Ryan McKinnon, a spokesperson for Virginians for Cannabis Safety.
In 2023, Virginia lawmakers put new guidelines in place to crack down on these potentially dangerous drugs.
“Essentially they said these products need to be inspected by a certified laboratory, they also can’t have excessive amounts of THC which is the intoxicating ingredient, childproof packaging that kids cant get into, they can’t be marketed towards kids,” McKinnon explained.
Target 7 submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to see if vape shops and convenience stores are following the new law.
We found dozens of stores across the state have been fined for selling illegal products since new guidelines for these products went into effect in July 2023.
Thirteen local businesses had violations for selling products with levels of THC beyond what the state allows, which is 2 mg of THC per package, or a total THC concentration of 0.3 percent.
1. Gablan F&O, 809 Main Street, Lynchburg
2. The Coughie Shop, 7917 Timberlake Road, Lynchburg
3. Twin Smokes, 1128 E. Lynchburg Salem Tpike #400, Bedford
4. Va Mart, 20600 Timberlake Rd, Lynchburg
5. Va Nutrition, 4802 Valley View Blvd Unit 245, Roanoke
6. Z’s Tobacco & Vape Altavista,1301-J Main St. Altavista, VA
7. Gablan F&O dba Smoke Shop 2, 2123 Wards Road Lynchburg
8. Galax Tobacco & Vape located at 3813 Wards Road Lynchburg
9. Moses Tobacco & Gift located at 2320 Wards Road Unit A Lynchburg
10. Cherry Hill Tobacco & Vape, 1134 E Stuart Drive, Galax
11. King of Smoke, 7701 Timberlake Rd, STE 1130, Lynchburg (X2)
12. Smoker’s World, LLC located at 8215 Staples Mill RD Henrico
13. Ruckersville Smoke World LLC, 2123 Wards Road Lynchburg
Eight of those shops are in Lynchburg. King of Smoke even faced fines on multiple check-ins, one back in August and another in February. Some of the products being sold during the August 2023 citation advertised a THC level of 3500 times the legal limit.
According to the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, in 2022, nearly 2,200 children in Virginia were hospitalized for cannabis exposure.
Dr. Stromberg said it’s important parents are aware of how cannabis can impact their children.
“Younger kids can become lethargic, or sleepy, or tired,” He told WDBJ7. “They may not be responsive. You tend to see a lot more paranoia in older teenagers and older adults where you feel like their hearts racing and when you get them up on a monitor you see that their heart is going fast, their blood pressure may be elevated as well.”
Dr. Stromberg emphasized if you ever think your child was exposed to THC products you can call the Virginia Poison Center’s 24/7 Hotline and they can help identify when you need to seek emergency care.
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