Erie County officials are raising awareness about the dangers associated with unregulated smoke shops following the release of a comprehensive statewide Grand Jury report that outlines significant public health and safety concerns tied to the sale of illegal THC products marketed as legal hemp.
In 2025, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office released the statewide Grand Jury report. The report found that the rapid expansion of largely unregulated smoke shops where consumers are routinely exposed to dangerously potent products sold under misleading labels and with minimal oversight.
According to the investigation, many smoke shops, convenience stores, and gas stations throughout Pennsylvania are selling products falsely marketed as hemp while containing levels of THC that far exceed legal limits…