The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a $2,500 civil penalty to R Smokes Plus, citing violations of state regulations on consumable hemp sales. The penalty, announced Wednesday, targets five R Smokes Plus locations in Spirit Lake, Storm Lake, Perry, Carroll, and Creston. Each location was fined $500 for selling hemp products without a state-issued registration. The Bureau of Cannabis Regulation launched an investigation in April 2024 after discovering that R Smokes Plus stores were selling consumable hemp products without proper registration. Despite multiple notices and a cease-and-desist order in August, follow-up inspections in September confirmed ongoing sales at several locations. Under Iowa law, all retailers selling consumable hemp must register with the state. The HHS found that R Smokes Plus had failed to meet the legal requirements for registration despite multiple warnings. R Smokes Plus has 30 days to request a hearing to appeal the fine.
