Wisconsin Hemp Shop Owner Facing 130 Years in Prison for Allegedly Packaging Illegal THC as Legal Hemp Products  

A Wisconsin hemp shop owner is facing more than 130 years in prison for allegedly falsely packaging, marking, and selling illicit cannabis as hemp-derived THC products that would be legal in the state, GazetteXtra reports. Jerry McCoy faces 13 counts of trafficking illegal THC following police raids on six of his 16 Hemp 1848 locations in Rock and Green Counties, which prosecutors say led to the discovery of an “incredibly large, complex drug delivery scheme” that involves “fraud.” 

According to the criminal complaint, the raids uncovered about 90,000 grams of THC products that would be legal in states that have legalized cannabis for adult use, but are illegal in Wisconsin. The products tested by police had concentrations at or above 60% to 80% delta-9 THC. In Wisconsin, the threshold for legal THC products is 0.3% delta-9 THC.  

Investigators did not explain where the products were produced or where, or how, McCoy and his company obtained them; however, prosecutors allege that McCoy assembled products – including edibles and vape – from the high THC products and sold them in packaging that mimicked products that are legally allowed for sale in Wisconsin. 

Michael Torphy, McCoy’s attorney, told GazetteXtra that his client “completely contests” the allegations. McCoy’s bond was set at $50,000.