Since the height of the pandemic in 2020, the Bee Hippy Hemp Dispensary in Garland, Texas has provided customers with hemp-derived gummies and oils. Such products are legal under both federal and Texas law, since they are produced from hemp plants, which are different from marijuana. However, last June, local police raided the dispensary and arrested owner Chris Fagan under suspicion of selling marijuana, which remains illegal in the state of Texas. 

While CBD and other hemp-derived products which contain less than 0.3% delta-9 THC were federally legalized with the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, this raid highlights the confusion that is brought on by a lack of consistency and regulation across the hemp industry. While products like CBD, delta-8 THC, and THCA are technically legal on a federal level, their legality actually varies from state to state. While some states such as California and Nevada have adopted a basic set of regulations, other states are much more strict. Consistent regulations could help prevent more unnecessary raids on legal businesses like the Bee Hippy Hemp Dispensary in the future.

Why Was the Bee Hippy Hemp Dispensary Raided?

Fagan’s lawyer maintains that the Bee Hippy Hemp Dispensary is completely legal. As his home and business were raided by Garland police, he attempted to show them Certificates of Analysis, third-party lab test results, which verified that none of his products contained more than the legal amount of delta-9 THC. These attempts were ignored as Fagan and one of his employees, David Dranguet, were arrested on the felony suspicion of delivering marijuana. 

According to Fagan and his lawyer, an undercover officer purchased THCA flower from his shop on three separate occasions, which led to the raid. The Bee Hippy Hemp Dispensary has sold THCA flower to customers since the business started in 2020, but did this cannabinoid lead to chaos?

What is THCA?

In short, THCA is the acidic precursor to THC.  When it is exposed to heat, THCA actually converts to delta-9 THC, and thus produces intoxicating effects. While some experts argue that THCA is federally legal, others warn that this cannabinoid could put retailers and manufacturers in hot water. This is because most police departments use a testing process that heats up samples, and can often end up converting THCA into delta-9 THC themselves. 

It’s quite possible that the police officers who raided Fagan’s shop were unfamiliar with this science. Luckily, Fagan and Draguet were released after a couple of days and the Bee Hippy Hemp Dispensary reopened in July. While he didn’t stock hemp flower for the first few months back, he has resumed. His shop provides customers with copies of lab reports which show that the products qualify as hemp.

Visit Real Tested CBD to Find High Quality Hemp Products!

If you don’t live near Fagan’s shop, but you still want to find the best hemp flower, visit Real Tested CBD. We’ve compiled third-party lab test results and unbiased reviews for dozens of CBD oils, hemp gummies, and delta-8 products, so that you can choose what’s right for you. You can also learn more about THCA and other hemp cannabinoids, stay up to date with hemp news, and find answers to common questions on our blog!