Press Release from Greene County Sheriff’s Office
Following complaints from several parents, the Greene County Sheriff’s Department conducted underage buy operations at two Greeneville businesses.
During these operations, a person was provided funds in an attempt to buy hemp-derived cannabinoid products. If asked by the clerk, the person was to present proper identification and to answer age-related questions truthfully.
Deputies with the School Resource Officer Division and Corrections Division conducted the investigations at the following locations:
- 007 Tobacco Outlet, 711 Asheville Hwy – The clerk at this store refused to sell the product to the person(s) involved in the investigation.
- Golds Tobacco & Vapor, 619 Asheville Hwy – The clerk at this store sold the product to the persons involved in the investigation. The purchasers were not asked for identification to verify their age.
Tennessee law prohibits the sale of a hemp-derived cannabinoid product to a person under the age of 21. In addition, it is against the law to sell a hemp-derived cannabinoid product without verification of age from the purchaser.
As a result of these underage buy operations, the clerk from Golds Tobacco & Vapor, Abdul Mohammed Al-Hadhrami, was charged with 3 counts of violating TCA 43-27-203, a Class A Misdemeanor. He was issued a summons to appear in Greene County Sessions Court on March 22, 2024.
This is the second time that Golds Tobacco & Vapor has been found in violation of this law. In December 2023, store clerk Mousa Ahmed Mohamed Ali was charged with 2 counts of violating TCA 43-27-403 –Selling Hemp-derived Cannabinoid Products.
These types of operations will continue as the Greene County Sheriff’s Department intends to keep these businesses from violating state laws.
