DES MOINES, Iowa — Despensary, a local hemp retailer in Des Moines, will soon be able to sell consumable hemp products once again after facing a one month suspension from the state.
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services issued a letter to Despensary on Nov. 14, telling the business that they have “continually failed to comply with Iowa law,” and made “willful misrepresentations to the department” about the products they sell.
As a result, Despensary was required to remove all consumable THC and CBD products from their shelves for 30 days. The department also failed to grant their application for a second storefront on Ingersoll Avenue.
Chief Operating Officer Sabrina Bergloff told Local 5 that the letter from Iowa HHS was the first notice she'd received about products that didn't comply with Iowa law. She submitted their proposed hemp product list to the state in September, but claims she was never notified of any issues.
"I have submitted multiple spreadsheets but then hear nothing back. So I’m like, am I supposed to sit on product for 30 days?" Bergloff said. "There’s a massive lack of communication.”
Bergloff also said that the Despensary works with several vendors, many of them local, all of which have to go through similar approval processes with the state.
"The vendors met all of the state's requirements, but the state doesn't follow their own guidelines," she added.
Now, one month since all THC and CBD products were forced off their shelves, the business will be able to sell them again when the suspension is lifted Friday.
“We’re gonna get our stuff back on and start selling the medicine back to our customers that they have been screaming for," Bergloff said.
Local 5 reached out to Iowa HHS for comment on Despensary's claims, but has yet to hear back.