Hemp Manufacturer Drops Bid to Recover Seized Hemp, Says Shipment Has Gone Bad

Oregon-based hemp manufacturer We CBD moved to withdraw its case seeking to recover nearly 550 pounds of hemp detained by CBP. Filing at the U.S.District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, the company said that since 16.5 months had elapsed since the seizure, the hemp's value has deteriorated so much that the continued litigation of the case will cost more than the shipment is worth. "For this expense-based reason, and for this reason alone, We CBD hereby withdraws its Verified Claim," the brief said (U.S. v. Approximately 548.22 Pounds of Hemp Detained from We CBD on November 8, 2020, W.D.N.C. #3:21-00267).

The hemp was seized in North Carolina after We CBD contracted with shipping company Planet Nine to export it from Oregon to Switzerland. CBP seized the shipment when the flight stopped to refuel in Charlotte, North Carolina. We CBD then sued Planet Nine for neglect (see 2109030056), while also seeking to recover the hemp from the federal government.