Nebraska’s Top Lawyer Targets THC Sales: 104 Omaha Shops Hit with Cease-and-Desist Orders

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers has drawn a firm line in the sand — and 104 businesses in Omaha are feeling the heat. On March 20, his office sent cease-and-desist letters to dozens of storefronts accused of selling THC products that allegedly misrepresent what’s inside.

It’s the latest move in a statewide push against what Hilgers has repeatedly called a “delta-8 crisis,” as unregulated cannabinoids flood shelves and confuse both customers and enforcement agencies alike.

THC Products Marketed as Hemp Now Under Fire

These weren’t random smoke shops or sketchy corner vendors. Investigators targeted businesses owned by 35 different companies. And every single one, according to Hilgers, sold at least one product labeled as hemp but actually containing cannabis-level THC.

The crux of the issue? The labels.

Hilgers said many of the products were not just misleading — they were dangerously inaccurate. Some contained synthetic cannabinoids. Others had high concentrations of delta-8 or delta-9 THC but were packaged and promoted as legal under federal hemp rules.

He called this “a deceptive, unfair and unsafe” trade practice.

What Exactly Are These Products — And Why the Fuss?

If you’ve walked into a vape shop, gas station, or even a boutique health store lately, you’ve probably seen them: gummies, cartridges, oils — all bearing the magic word “hemp.” Legally, hemp products can contain no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis. But what about delta-8?

That’s where it gets tricky.

Delta-8 is a cannabinoid derived from hemp. It’s psychoactive, like marijuana, but thanks to a loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill, it slipped through regulatory cracks. Many states have scrambled to ban it. Nebraska hasn’t — but it’s been watching.

Hilgers says the products being sold are not only mislabeled, but often contain THC levels that go way beyond hemp’s legal threshold.

The Investigation: Quiet Buys, Loud Results

In cooperation with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, undercover investigators bought dozens of products over several weeks. These weren’t your typical police raids. No sirens. No handcuffs.

Instead:

• Plainclothes officers walked into stores and purchased items marked as compliant hemp.

• Those products were tested in labs contracted by the Attorney General’s Office.

• Results showed higher-than-permitted levels of THC — sometimes significantly more.

And that’s what led to 104 cease-and-desist letters landing in mailboxes across Omaha this week.

Omaha Is Just the Beginning

“We started in other cities, but focused on Omaha because it’s Nebraska’s largest city and a clear hotspot,” Hilgers said at a press conference on Thursday.

He confirmed that investigations began in late 2023, well before the Omaha sweep. And he didn’t rule out action in other cities going forward.

One small paragraph here.

For business owners, the warning is clear: stop selling questionable THC products or prepare to be dragged into court.

Business Owners Left Uncertain, Caught in Legal Limbo

There’s confusion — and concern — among retailers. Several shop owners, speaking anonymously, said they thought they were compliant. One said they purchase directly from suppliers who provide lab certificates. Another insisted their products are “completely legal under federal law.”

But Hilgers’ team disagrees. They claim many of these third-party certificates are inaccurate, outdated, or even faked.

Retailers now face a tough choice:

• Pull potentially lucrative products off shelves.

• Or fight the Attorney General in court.

Some are already calling lawyers.

What Happens Next?

While the cease-and-desist letters are a warning shot, they’re not criminal charges. Not yet, at least. But Hilgers made it clear that lawsuits are on the table.

Here’s what the process might look like, based on legal precedence:

He’s urging shops to voluntarily comply to avoid that route — but don’t expect the pressure to ease anytime soon.

Statewide Push Reflects Bigger National Trend

Nebraska isn’t alone. States like New York, Colorado, and Texas have all recently taken steps to regulate or ban delta-8. The problem? It’s hard to pin down. Products vary wildly, testing is inconsistent, and there’s a lot of money on the line.

One sentence to slow the pace here.

Hilgers is betting on strong enforcement rather than waiting for the legislature to catch up. And for now, the message is crystal clear: if you’re selling THC-laced products under the guise of hemp, Nebraska is watching.