In an effort to combat the growing issue of minors possessing electronic vape cartridges containing nicotine, Delta 8, Delta 9 hemp-derived, and illegal THC, the Royse City Police Department recently conducted a targeted operation to identify local stores selling these products to underage individuals. The operation revealed a concerning trend, with store clerks in several establishments failing to adhere to state laws prohibiting the sale of such items to individuals under the age of 21.
During the month of June, the Royse City Police Department, in collaboration with undercover underage individuals supervised by police officers, visited various stores within the city to assess compliance with the law. Shockingly, out of the 17 attempts made, vape cartridges were sold to underage individuals on 10 separate occasions.
The following stores were identified as having clerks who sold vape cartridges to minors: American Shaman located at 602 IH30, Shop N Vape at 508 IH30, Tiger Mart at 117 W. IH30, and Shell Gas Station at 100 IH30. Multiple sales to minors occurred at these locations during the operation, raising concerns about their adherence to legal regulations.
However, commendably, clerks at other local stores such as Texaco, Murphy Gas Station, Charles’ Grocery, and RC Food Mart followed state law by requesting identification from the underage individuals and refusing to sell them the prohibited products.
The Texas Health and Safety Code strictly prohibits the sale of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21. Consequently, the store clerks who violated this law by selling these products to minors will face Class C Misdemeanor charges, with their cases being handled by the Royse City Municipal Court. The Texas Comptroller's Office, responsible for regulating the sale of such products, has also been informed of the violations.
The Royse City Police Department expressed surprise at the high percentage of sales to minors discovered during the operation. As a result, they plan to conduct follow-up investigations in the future, aiming to apprehend and prosecute individuals who continue to sell to underage customers. Store owners could also face additional penalties for non-compliance.
