Two kids were hospitalized after eating THC gummies sold at a Milwaukee convenience store. Owners of Rama Foods appeared at a Common Council Licensing Committee meeting last month, where their store’s license was reviewed. Police and the city licensing committee found store workers acted within their rights during an incident where children ingested THC gummies.Milwaukee police responded to Children’s Wisconsin Aug. 7, 2024. “Two children ingested gummies that were purchased from the store that contained THC. The children, a 9-year-old and a 14-year-old, were taken to a hospital for treatment,” Milwaukee police said.Milwaukee Police Sgt. Guadalupe Velasquez spoke at the licensing committee meeting and summarized the police report.”The subject purchased gummies for the children at 6730 W. Villard, believing them to be candy,” Velazquez said.WISN 12 News went to the store and saw the gummies that the owner said were sold that day. They’re kept behind a glass counter, out of kids’ reach. The bag is nearly identical to Trolli gummy worms, with small print in the bottom corner that says it has 600 mg of THC. THC products are made from hemp and have intoxicating effects similar to marijuana.”Video surveillance depicts the employee obtaining the item from under the counter and handing them to the children,” Velazquez said. Council members gave the store owners a warning, finding it didn’t break the law.”Is there an age requirement? An age limitation on these products?” Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa asked.”Not that I know of,” Assistant City Attorney Travis Gresham said.The 2018 Farm Bill created a hemp loophole of sorts. It distinguishes hemp-derived THC from marijuana, legalizing its sale in states like Wisconsin, where marijuana is illegal.”We have no way of enforcing this currently. There’s nothing for us to issue,” Velasquez said.Stores like Rama Foods implement their own protocol, not selling to anyone under 21, and it’s not required by law. “This is very alarming. Technically, this worker didn’t break the law by handing those weed gummies to a child. And so the state legislature needs to listen up and do their job,” Zamarripa said.A bill introduced in the United States House this week proposes closing the hemp loophole by banning the sale of hemp-derived products. There are people who oppose such a measure. The founder of a North Carolina-based company, in a statement to 12 News, said in part, “This bill is deeply concerning for the entire hemp industry. If passed, it would effectively erase years of progress by banning products that are currently legal under the 2018 Farm Bill. Millions of Americans rely on these products every day, and if they are banned, the demand will remain, pushing consumers into the unregulated or illicit markets,” fChris Karazin, CEO and ounder of Carolindica, said.
Two kids were hospitalized after eating THC gummies sold at a Milwaukee convenience store.
Owners of Rama Foods appeared at a Common Council Licensing Committee meeting last month, where their store’s license was reviewed. Police and the city licensing committee found store workers acted within their rights during an incident where children ingested THC gummies.
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Milwaukee police responded to Children’s Wisconsin Aug. 7, 2024.
“Two children ingested gummies that were purchased from the store that contained THC. The children, a 9-year-old and a 14-year-old, were taken to a hospital for treatment,” Milwaukee police said.
Milwaukee Police Sgt. Guadalupe Velasquez spoke at the licensing committee meeting and summarized the police report.
“The subject purchased gummies for the children at 6730 W. Villard, believing them to be candy,” Velazquez said.
WISN 12 News went to the store and saw the gummies that the owner said were sold that day. They’re kept behind a glass counter, out of kids’ reach. The bag is nearly identical to Trolli gummy worms, with small print in the bottom corner that says it has 600 mg of THC.
THC products are made from hemp and have intoxicating effects similar to marijuana.
“Video surveillance depicts the employee obtaining the item from under the counter and handing them to the children,” Velazquez said.
Council members gave the store owners a warning, finding it didn’t break the law.
“Is there an age requirement? An age limitation on these products?” Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa asked.
“Not that I know of,” Assistant City Attorney Travis Gresham said.
The 2018 Farm Bill created a hemp loophole of sorts. It distinguishes hemp-derived THC from marijuana, legalizing its sale in states like Wisconsin, where marijuana is illegal.
“We have no way of enforcing this currently. There’s nothing for us to issue,” Velasquez said.
Stores like Rama Foods implement their own protocol, not selling to anyone under 21, and it’s not required by law.
“This is very alarming. Technically, this worker didn’t break the law by handing those weed gummies to a child. And so the state legislature needs to listen up and do their job,” Zamarripa said.
A bill introduced in the United States House this week proposes closing the hemp loophole by banning the sale of hemp-derived products.
There are people who oppose such a measure. The founder of a North Carolina-based company, in a statement to 12 News, said in part, “This bill is deeply concerning for the entire hemp industry. If passed, it would effectively erase years of progress by banning products that are currently legal under the 2018 Farm Bill. Millions of Americans rely on these products every day, and if they are banned, the demand will remain, pushing consumers into the unregulated or illicit markets,” fChris Karazin, CEO and ounder of Carolindica, said.
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