Allen Police, DEA Raid Vape Shops for Illegal THC Sales
ALLEN — In a coordinated operation across Allen, officers seized evidence and arrested business owners in nine different vape shops. The raids, executed simultaneously, targeted establishments selling illegal THC products.
Anyone driving along Main Street that day would have seen flashing lights as officers moved through strip malls.
“This is happening right in front of us,” said Police Chief Steve Dye. According to Dye, these stores, representing over a third of the city’s vape shops, were selling products with illegal THC levels—exceeding the legal limit of 0.3%, the threshold for legal hemp under Texas law.
“We conducted several undercover operations, even sending minors in, and many were able to purchase THC illegally,” Dye explained. "When we tested these products, we discovered most had THC levels far beyond what is legally allowed."
Some of the shop owners, represented by attorney David Sergi, have pushed back. Sergi, who is representing a group in a federal lawsuit, labeled the raids as overreach by the authorities.
“These local, family-run businesses were operating within the law. The Allen Police and the DEA crossed legal boundaries by confiscating products, records, and even employees' personal computers,” Sergi said.
Hemp Legalization in Texas
Texas law, since 2019, allows products containing up to 0.3% THC to be sold legally as hemp. However, state lab tests found THC levels in the seized products at some shops exceeding 15%, with one product testing as high as 78%.
“The strength of these products was far beyond what we expected,” Chief Dye remarked.
While cities like Austin and Denton are shifting toward decriminalizing low-level marijuana offenses, Allen is taking a different stance by cracking down on high-potency THC sales, especially to minors.
“I’ve spoken with many residents, and most of them are concerned about these shops,” said Dye. “These products are often packaged to look like snacks or candy, clearly aimed at younger customers.”
Photos from the DEA showed items like chips labeled “Doweedos,” cookies branded “Trips Ahoy,” and candies named “Medicated Skittles.”
DEA Special Agent Eduardo Chavez commented on the deceptive nature of these products, stating, “Consumers might think they’re buying something legal. The packaging looks innocent, but the THC levels are far higher than advertised.”
Concerns Over Industry Practices
According to Dye, some shop owners admitted they were aware of the illegal nature of their products. “During undercover operations, staff would point out which items would give a stronger high and even advised customers to hide them from police,” he said.
Dye believes this is a significant deviation from the original intent of Texas lawmakers when they legalized hemp. He hopes to collaborate with lawmakers to refine the laws, ensuring that products with genuine health benefits remain legal while removing dangerous, high-potency items from the market.
“Our focus is not on products intended for health use, but on stopping the sale of illegal items marketed toward young people,” Dye concluded.
