The post The Strange, Suspenseful Saga of ‘Operation Candy Crush’ Has Ended appeared first on High Times.
The strange, suspenseful saga of ‘Operation Candy Crush’ has ended after charges were dropped by prosecutors. Rutherford County, Tennessee District Jennings J. Jones announced the decision in a press release February 28. Jones has filed a motion with the court to dismiss all charges.
Operation Candy Crush received national news attention last month. Deputies from the Rutherford County Sherrif’s Office raided 23 stores in the county on February 12. Deputies seized cash, gummy candies, and vape cartridges containing the cannabinoid CBD in the raids. Officers padlocked the stores, and they remained closed for four days. The DA’s office had filed petitions to declare the businesses public nuisances and closed permanently.
Officials also charged 21 store owners with felony drug selling charges. Jones dropped the charges after labs at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) reported that they could not determine the source of the CBD. The DA ended the actions against the stores, as well.
Is It Hemp? Or Marijuana?
“Chemists from the TBI have now informed my office that they cannot determine whether the cannabidiol detected on these products came from a hemp plant or marijuana plant,” the release said.
“TBI is no longer willing to testify that this is a Schedule VI substance. We have no choice but to dismiss,” Jones told local media.
Originally, Jones expressed great confidence in the case.
“If you possess this without a prescription, you have broken the law,” Jones said at a press conference after the raids.
“If you are selling this without a prescription or if you’re not a pharmacy selling it to someone