Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele announced today criminal charges against 46 businesses following a countywide investigation into the illegal sale of THC products at retail establishments.

Officials said the investigation by the Montgomery County Detective Bureau was part of an initiative to address a wave of unregulated and unsafe products often found at smoke shops, convenience stores and gas stations.

The investigation included physical stores within 26 townships throughout Montgomery County. Detectives conducted public purchases of illegal THC products and “observed and purchased products which were labelled as containing THC including gummies, beverages, vape cartridges and other consumable products,” according to the announcement.

“Some of these products indicate they contain over 1,000mg of THC in a single gummy,” Steele said in a statement.

In October 2025, the District Attorney’s office released “Unregulated, Unsafe, and Illegal – The Reality of Smoke Shops in Pennsylvania,” an Investigating Grand Jury Report. Following the report, the office issued notices to numerous businesses advising them that unlawful THC products be removed from sale. The notice referenced findings from the report and warned that continued sales of these products could result in criminal prosecution.

Detectives later determined that certain businesses continued selling THC products following receipt of those notices, Steele said.

“Businesses do not get to ignore the laws of this Commonwealth merely because there is profit to be made. Too many smoke shops and gas stations have become distributors of wholly unregulated, dangerous, and, in this case, illegal products. Law enforcement has an obligation to prosecute the general sale of THC,” said DA Steele. “Our enforcement actions are taken to protect Montgomery County youth and the general public from the unscrupulous sales of illegal substances in the businesses.”

Each business is charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, an ungraded felony. The announcement did not specify which businesses have been charged. Preliminary hearings for all defendants have been scheduled November 9.

You can watch Steele’s announcement below, courtesy of CBS Philadelphia:

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Screengrab: CBS