Virginia Police Seize $40K in Marijuana, Shut Down Smithfield Vape Shops

10 February 2025

Authorities in Smithfield, Virginia, shut down four vape shops and seized nearly $40,000 worth of illegal cannabis following a four-month undercover investigation. Law enforcement executed search warrants at multiple locations, confiscating $39,465 in marijuana products and arresting four individuals on felony and misdemeanor charges, including possession with intent to distribute. The investigation began after complaints that these businesses were selling vapes to minors and engaging in illegal marijuana sales. Town officials revoked the business licenses of the implicated stores, reinforcing their commitment to enforcing state cannabis laws.

Virginia law allows personal marijuana possession but prohibits unlicensed retail sales. With no licensed dispensaries in Smithfield, any cannabis sales within town limits are illegal. This crackdown highlights the growing challenge of regulating cannabis distribution in partially legalized states. Consumers who relied on these shops for cannabis must now seek alternatives outside the town or through legal medical dispensaries. While medical marijuana patients remain unaffected, the broader cannabis industry faces continued hurdles as demand for legal access outpaces availability, fueling underground sales.