Stanly County dispensary denies THC violations following investigation

STANLY COUNTY, N.C. — The Uwharrie Kush dispensary has reopened one week after a law enforcement operation.

Store owners maintain that their products are fully compliant with the law, while local investigators report that prior tests found products exceeding state legal limits.

Investigators with the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office stated that products purchased from the business prior to last week’s operation tested above North Carolina’s legal hemp limit.

In response, dispensary owners provided documentation, including lab test certificates, that they say proves all products met legal requirements before being offered for sale.

Margaret Linen, co-owner of Uwharrie Kush, said the business strictly adheres to legal standards and relies heavily on lab documentation.

“Everything that we sell is 100% compliant, especially with our loose flour,” Linen said.

Linen explained that product verification relies on direct farm sourcing and lab testing governed by federal legislation.

“We make sure that our distributors are buying farm direct and in some cases, we buy direct from farm,” Linen said. “And because they have to be top-notch in their paperwork, because we completely rely on something called a COA, a certificate of analysis, that is lab testing, that is dictated under the Farm Bill exactly when it has to be harvested and what the percentages have to be. Then the certificate is issued, and it is also uploaded with the DEA. So we make sure all of our distributors are on top of their paperwork.”

After shipments arrive at the dispensary, staff package the products with custom labels and protective packaging designed for safety.

“Reason why we do that is because we have very plain packaging with a simple label,” Linen said. “We don’t want them to look enticing to kids in any way, shape, or form, and those bags also have a child safety lock on it.”

Law enforcement officials stated that their goal is to maintain community safety while ensuring local stores operate within legal boundaries.

Lt. Trent Middlebrook of the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office said authorities want to assist businesses with compliance.

“We are willing to work with these businesses as much as possible,” Middlebrook said. “We want them to comply with regulations. We want them to sell a product that our community wants, but it has to be legal. Has to be within regulations.”

New regulations governing the industry are expected to take effect starting this December.

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