In this episode of the Trade To Black podcast presented by Dutchie, host Shadd Dales and Anthony Varrell welcome back Trent Woloveck, Chief Strategy Officer at Jushi Holdings (OTCQX: JUSHF), to address a Denver raid targeting intoxicating hemp products and synthetic cannabinoids.
Woloveck walks through reports of a DEA-led raid on a Colorado processing facility tied to MC Nutraceuticals, noting that it wasn’t just the DEA involved — Homeland Security and the EPA were part of a long-term investigation into how these products were made and moved. He explains why this enforcement surge reflects a clearer understanding of what Congress actually intended with the 2018 Farm Bill and the recent federal hemp-THC crackdown.
The crackdown follows the recently passed Continuing Resolution (CR), which includes a federal hemp-intoxicants ban set to fully take effect in 354 days. Enforcement has accelerated dramatically, with raids occurring “daily, even hourly,” alongside deepening infighting within the hemp industry itself.
Wolovec predicted expanding enforcement beyond Colorado, citing recent actions in Florida, California, and Oregon. He stressed that many hemp stores were effectively selling illegal marijuana, psilocybin, nitrous oxide, and synthetics—products entirely outside regulated cannabis frameworks.
Both hosts and Wolovec discussed the looming economic fallout of the ban. Estimates suggest the current $30B hemp-intoxicant market could shrink to $5B, redirecting massive volume back into age-regulated cannabis operations. Wolovec argued this shift will significantly benefit compliant state-licensed operators, especially in states like Ohio transitioning to adult-use.
Throughout, he draws a firm line between unregulated hemp-derived intoxicants and state-licensed cannabis operators, arguing there are no real shortcuts in a compliant market. The episode offers a grounded look at what these raids signal for Colorado, Florida, Ohio, and beyond — and how a cleanup of gray-market activity may ultimately support the regulated cannabis sector.
Tune in for all the details on the raid in Denver, and what this means.
