Pueblo cannabis company misrepresenting industrial hemp products to pay $225,000 fine under settlement with Attorney General Phil Weiser

Nov. 13, 2024 (DENVER) – Attorney General Phil Weiser today announced that he has reached a $225,000 settlement agreement with Pueblo-based Bee’s Knees CBDs and its owner Joseph Leyba after a state investigation found the company made several misrepresentations on its website regarding the source of their products, wrongly characterized some products as “organic,” lacked a proper age verification system implemented on its website, and lied about supporting conservation groups. The fine could grow to $495,000 if the company fails to comply with the full terms of the settlement.

“Colorado is committed to maintaining an effective system of overseeing the sale of legal cannabis products—one that keeps it out of the hands of kids, ensures safety standards, requires chain-of-custody tracking, and gives consumers important information about the products they buy,” said Weiser. “In this case, the company misrepresented to their customers the source and nature of their products and sold intoxicating products without verifying the age of customers. This settlement will hold them accountable for those violations of the law and will ensure compliance in the future.”

Bee’s Knees markets a variety of industrial hemp extracts on their website, both intoxicating and non-intoxicating. Industrial hemp, which has been legal under federal law since 2018, must contain less than 0.3% of the psychoactive chemical Delta-9 THC.

Despite claiming that their products, which they sell mostly to wholesalers, are produced in Colorado and are organic, the company’s owner admitted to investigators that these claims are false. Further investigation found the company used altered and expired hemp licenses and testing documents to misrepresent their products as complying with the law.

The company also failed to institute an age verification system on their website, despite selling intoxicating hemp products in gummy and chocolate form that contain as much Delta-9 THC as products found in regulated marijuana dispensaries.

Additionally, Bee’s Knees claimed on its website that the company was associated with several conservation nonprofits—claims that investigators found were false. After the attorney general’s office confirmed these claims were false, Bee’s Knees removed the names, logos, and claims of association from their website.

On top of paying fines, Bee’s Knees agrees to fully comply with state law, including all representations it makes to customers. Moreover, the company will be required to thoroughly vet any raw materials used to make its products. The agreement also requires the company to obtain all required licenses and permits to legally conduct business related to cannabis products and, if requested, provide those documents to the state within 10 business days. Finally, Bee’s Knees is required to add age verification to their website as well as remove any misrepresentations about their products or associations with nonprofits.

Consumers are encouraged to report any deceptive marketing or other misrepresentations made by businesses to the attorney general’s office at StopFraudColorado.gov or by calling 1-800-222-4444.

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