CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Harrison County Sheriff Robert Matheny II says medical emergencies at school involving Harrison County students is one reason behind the vape shops raids his department along with other state agencies conducted Thursday.
Matheny said there have been ongoing investigation into the sale of illegal THC products to underage residents and potential violations of the state’s new Vape Safety Act.
“Make sure that Harrison County is safe, specifically our youth,” Matheny said Friday on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town.” “Because there have been medical emergencies in our middle schools and high schools related to seizures caused by the vapes from these shops.”
So far, there are at least seven felony cases and many other citations for illegal operations at the locations. The results show that one month into the Vape Safety Act, some merchants have not made an attempt to come into compliance.
“There were 15 stores; we did 30 compliance checks, and there were 49 violations,” Matheny said. “There wasn’t one that did not have a violation.”
Other local and state agencies continue processing evidence, and additional charges and citations could be coming in the future from the operation.
“The sheriff’s office handles the stores and cases that were outside the municipal areas,” Matheny said. “There were seven felony sales of hemp-derived cannabis products to people under 21, and the sheriff’s office is handling one.”
Matheny said this is the first of future operations and urged members of the public to report the sale of illegal vape products. Cutting access to these types of products eliminates an avenue for young people to use drugs of other types.
“Harrison County has a zero tolerance policy; I’m sure all the other counties across the state have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to youth access,” Matheny said.
The law enforcement community will always step up to support and protect the youths in the communities across Harrison County no matter what the substance. Matheny said the Harrison County Drug Task Force, a HIDA-funded organization, continues many felony investigations into the distribution of meth, fentanyl, and cocaine.
“I’m not a big regulation fan either, but when it comes to unsafe substances landing in the middle schools and the high schools, you have to do something,” Matheny said.
Joining deputies in the operation Thursday were officials from the state Tax Division, the state Alcohol Beverage Control Administration, the state Department of Agriculture along with police officers from Bridgeport and Clarksburg.