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COFFEE COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is cracking down on the illegal sale of hemp products, including sales to minors.

According to CCSO, the crackdown is in response to growing community complaints.

Sheriff Fred Cole requested that the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Law Enforcement Division conduct an underage compliance operation across multiple locations, CCSO said.

The investigation revealed the following violations of the state hemp law:

• A clerk was cited for selling hemp products to a minor under O.C.G.A. 16-12-241(a).
• One business was cited for selling prohibited products marketed toward children under O.C.G.A. 2-23-4(a)(7).
• Violations were issued for failure to post mandatory age restriction signage under O.C.G.A. 16-12-242.
• Additional citations were given for not labeling THC content as required by O.C.G.A. 2-23-9.1(b).

CCSO said that Georgia law allows the sale of certain hemp-derived products, but only to those 21 and older, with strict labeling and marketing rules to protect the youth.

“Protecting our youth and holding businesses accountable to the law is our top priority. We take community concerns seriously, and I thank the Georgia Department of Agriculture for their partnership in keeping Coffee County safe.”

CCSO is encouraging retailers to review state requirements and ensure full compliance. Additional enforcement operations are anticipated.

Anyone with information about illegal hemp sales can contact the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office at (912) 384-4227.

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