MontCo Indicts 13 Over Illegal High-Potency THC Vapes

**Montgomery County Law Enforcement Indicts 13 for Allegedly Selling Illegal High-Potency THC Products**

**MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX – June 12, 2024** – Montgomery County law enforcement and prosecutors have announced a significant crackdown on the sale of illegal, high-potency THC vape products, resulting in felony indictments against 13 individuals linked to 10 smoke shops across the county. The multi-agency effort, which began in March 2024, culminated in grand jury indictments on May 22, with details made public at a press conference today.

District Attorney Brett Ligon minced no words, stating these businesses were not simply operating in legal grey areas but were allegedly pushing “dope” under the guise of legal hemp products. “These are not legitimate businesses selling legal products,” Ligon asserted, highlighting a deliberate exploitation of public confusion surrounding Texas’s evolving hemp legislation.

The investigation, spearheaded by undercover teams from the Precinct 1 Constable’s Office and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, targeted various shops situated in rapidly growing communities like Conroe, Magnolia, Spring, and The Woodlands. Investigators found a range of products, primarily vapes and edibles, advertised as legal delta-8 THC or similar hemp derivatives. However, subsequent laboratory tests reportedly confirmed that these products contained illegal levels of delta-9 THC – the primary psychoactive component in marijuana. Some samples tested as high as 60-70% delta-9 THC, far exceeding the 0.3% legal limit stipulated by Texas law for hemp products.

Texas’s hemp legislation permits the sale of products derived from hemp, provided their delta-9 THC content does not exceed 0.3% on a dry weight basis. This distinction is crucial, as delta-8 THC, while psychoactive, is often derived from hemp and generally falls within the legal delta-9 THC threshold if processed correctly. The products in question, however, allegedly contained delta-9 THC levels characteristic of illicit marijuana.

The businesses implicated in these indictments include:
* Smoke N’ Chill (Conroe)
* Cloudz Smoke Shop (Conroe)
* Smoker’s Paradise (Magnolia)
* Roll Up (Spring)
* The Vape Shop (Spring)
* Prime Smoke Shop (Spring)
* Exotic Smoke Shop (Spring)
* Smokey Smoke Shop (Spring)
* Vaporized (The Woodlands)
* One Stop Smoke Shop (The Woodlands)

The individuals facing felony charges are Osama Qasim Saed, Khalid Hassan Saed, Adel Muhammad Qasem Murshed, Saqer Alqasem Murshed, Mohammad Ahmad Mohammad Naji, Mohammad Hamed Mohammad Naji, Abdalaziz Saleh Abdullah Alhomrani, Omar Adel Murshed, Yazan Yahya Alqublani, Ahmad Naji Hamed Naji, Ahmad Salem Alhomrani, Nizar S. Abdulrab, and Zackary A. Abdulrab.

Ligon underscored the severe public safety concerns associated with these illegally potent products. He cited a concerning incident where a 15-year-old was hospitalized after using an illegally potent vape product purchased from one of the shops now under indictment. Beyond the dangerously high delta-9 THC levels, investigators also reportedly discovered that some stores were selling products containing psilocybin, a Schedule I controlled substance with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse under federal and state law.

All 13 individuals have been charged with felony manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance. If convicted, these offenses carry significant penalties, ranging from 2 to 20 years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000. While this targeted crackdown officially commenced in March, authorities suspect that some of these businesses may have been operating in violation of state law for years, exploiting the public’s lack of clarity regarding Texas’s evolving hemp legislation and contributing to health risks within the community.

The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office stated that the enforcement action serves as a clear warning that such illicit operations will not be tolerated, reinforcing a commitment to public safety and strict adherence to state drug laws. The indicted individuals will face further legal proceedings in Montgomery County courts.