Montgomery County law enforcement officials arrested four individuals and seized more than 140 THC vape pens after an investigation found multiple smoke shop locations selling the products in violation of state law.
According to a recent Facebook announcement, investigators with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Vice Unit and the Montgomery County Narcotics Enforcement Team concluded a targeted investigation into the sale of THC vape pens to minors at four smoke shop locations operating under the same ownership in December. Undercover operations confirmed that the products were sold to underage buyers, prompting search warrants at stores in New Caney and Conroe.
During coordinated searches, authorities seized 143 THC vape pens and arrested the alleged owner of the stores, Emad Aldin Jaddou, along with three store clerks. All four locations were operating under the name “Fun Kosh Smoke Store,” according to officials.
The arrests come amid continued debate at the state level over how Texas should regulate hemp-derived THC products.
As Texas Scorecard has previously reported, the issue traces back to the Legislature’s 2019 decision to legalize hemp for industrial use. That law allowed intoxicating hemp-derived products, including Delta-8 and similar compounds, to enter the retail market, spreading quickly through smoke shops and convenience stores across the state.
Law enforcement agencies and prevention groups have since raised concerns about the growth of unregulated edibles and vaping products, particularly their accessibility to minors.
During the 2025 legislative session, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick pushed to close the hemp loophole by banning consumable THC products outright. The proposal passed both chambers of the legislature but was vetoed in June by Gov. Greg Abbott, who argued the measure would likely face constitutional challenges.
Following the veto, Abbott called for a regulatory approach rather than prohibition and later issued an executive order imposing age restriction, ID requirements, and location limits for THC retailers near schools and churches.
Additionally, under Senate Bill 2024, which took effect September 1, it is a Class A misdemeanor to market, advertise, or sell e-cigarette products containing cannabinoids, regardless of whether the substances are hemp-derived.
The prohibition applies specifically to THC vape products and is not contingent on the age of the buyer. The statute defines prohibited products as those that “contain, are mixed with, or are marketed as containing or being mixed with any cannabinoids, alcohol, kratom, kava, mushrooms, tianeptine, or any derivatives of those substances.”
In announcing the Montgomery County arrests, officials warned that illegal THC vaping products remain available to minors through some retailers, despite changes to state law. Authorities encouraged parents to speak with their children about vaping and to remain alert to prohibited products.
Additional cases related to illegal THC sales remain under investigation, according to law enforcement officials.
