Within the last month, both the Apex Police Department and the Hoke County Sheriff’s
Office have seized illegal cannabis products from stores.

In North
Carolina, dried products from hemp plants cannot have more than .3% THC levels.
They are otherwise illegal.

You can’t tell how much THC is in a product just by looking
at it. WRAL News went to Delta 9 Analytical to see how products are tested.

“Most of the products that we see aren’t what they say they
are,” said Frank Maurio, the chief operating officer at Delta 9 Analytical.

Maurio said he believes most sellers are not aware if their
products are over the legal limit.

“I think a lot of people in a lot of these stores are trying
to provide products for their clients. They’re purchasing them from other
people,” Maurio said.

Apex police said officers
confiscated more than 1,150 pounds of illegal marijuana.

“We’ve received multiple complaints or concerned parents,”
said Christy Wentzell, Apex police’s criminal investigations captain. “We are both
looking at the concerns where it is getting into the hands of underage –
especially our middle school and young high school students – as well as the
fact that the contents are over the legal limits.”

Police say the products were advertised as CBD, but testing
showed they contained 10 to 40 times the legal limit of Delta-9 THC.

“If you think you’re consuming one amount of a possible
product, you may not be aware of the possible side effects,” Wentzell said.

She said the retailer is not being named at this time as
they continue to investigate. No charges have been filed at this point.

“The primary charge would be a trafficking of marijuana
charge,” Wentzell said. “We want to confirm before we file those charges, to
make sure that it’s tested above the legal limit.”

Wake County district attorney Lorrin Freeman told WRAL there
are limited labs that can quantitate the amount of THC.

“These cases will come down to being able to prove that the
person in possession knew the level of THC in the product was beyond lawful
limits, which might be difficult,” Freeman said via text. “We are increasingly
concerned people are being sold products that are much more dangerous and
poignant than they realize and, to that end, we will continue to investigate and
attempt to move forward with charges where evidence supports a prosecution.”

In
Hoke County, deputies charged Shuaib Dheifallah with trafficking marijuana
and felony maintaining a dwelling/vehicle/place for the sale/delivery of a
controlled substance.

Deputies say he owns Outlet Tobacco and Vape in Raeford.
They say they found illegal cannabis, THC vapes, THC edibles such as gummies,
infused beverages, and synthesized marijuana.

That investigation is still ongoing.

“You have to know what you’re selling; you have to be
educated,” Maurio said.