MINNEAPOLIS — The state is suing a Twin Cities retailer for selling illegal, noncompliant cannabis in its stores. It’s the first time regulators have taken this step.
The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), the agency tasked with oversight of the forthcoming legal adult-use recreational cannabis market and existing hemp-derived THC products, is suing Zaza, which has stores in Minneapolis and St. Paul, for selling illegal flower, vapes and pre-rolls that were, in some cases, 70 to 75 times higher than the legal limit, the lawsuit said.
It’s legal to sell hemp flower, which by definition has no more than 0.3% THC, the compound that produces a high, on a dry weight basis. Anything more than that is marijuana, which businesses cannot without a state license—none of which have been issued
OCM is asking a court to order the destruction of the noncompliant products at the defendant’s expense.
WCCO sent an email on Friday morning to Zaza and did not receive a response. Later, WCCO reached the owner by phone who answered and said he would not answer any questions.