Latest news with #SmokeyJones
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Tampa smoke shop raided; business owner says he sells only legal, licensed products
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Hillsborough County business owner is facing felony charges after the Tampa Police Department raided his business. Smokey Jones on Hillsborough Avenue sells THC and CBD-based products, but an attorney for the business owner said it's a licensed facility that complies with all state law and should never have been raided. Hernando High teacher charged with giving student Kratom 'They took over $200,000 worth of product, not only THC Hemp, not only THC Hemp Flower that they tested, but a bunch of other things that they just assumed may have been illegal products, including CBD dog treats,' said attorney Michael Minardi. The attorney said the raid is highly unusual for a licensed marijuana business in Florida. 'This is the first instance where they went in and they took product and they took money,' Minardi said. Business owner Dannie Jones said the raid has been devastating for his business and the employees who were handcuffed during the raid. 'I haven't did anything wrong and to be accused of something like that, I think it's ridiculous,' Jones said. The state contends there were illegal products seized. On Monday, a Hillsborough County judge set bond in the case and Jones was taken into custody. The defense said they will fight the charges. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Florida's 1st licensed hemp retail company speaks out about Tampa police raid
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A legal team representing the first licensed hemp retail company spoke on Monday after the store was raided by the Tampa Police Department last month. On April 15, the team said the Tampa Police Department executed a search warrant at Smokey Jones on West Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa. Smokey Jones was raided because law enforcement officers believed the store was selling illegal marijuana, 'despite the products being federally legal hemp with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of less than 0.3%,' attorneys representing the store said. The company said more than $200,000 worth of hemp products were seized, as well as money in cash registers and the safe, 'on the belief that the money was derived from illegal drug sales.' Attorneys for Smokey Jones said they are challenging the Tampa Police Department's actions because they are believed to be 'in violation of both state and federal laws.' According to the legal team, 'the lab testing done by the Tampa Police Department does not isolate the different molecules in the hemp plant but instead combines both legal THC molecules and regulated THC-molecules, causing false positives.' 'I am surrendering to the court to face these charges because I am innocent. I never intentionally possessed or purchased products that were not compliant with Florida law,' Smokey Jones owner Dannie Steven Jones Jr. said. 'While other licensed entities with the same violations are given stop sales or fines by the Department of Agriculture, my store was raided, my name was dragged through the mud, and we are being treated differently than all other licensed hemp retailers in the state. In fighting for my freedom, it is not just for myself, but for all licensed hemp companies in Florida. We must ensure that all hemp businesses are not subject to being raided, arrested, and having their hard earned money taken involvement from the Florida Department of Agriculture.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
