Citing increased regulations, Casper’s Platte Hemp Company to close

CASPER, Wyo. — Platte Hemp Company will be closing permanently at the end of this month. The shop was opened by Sam and Alicia Watt in late 2019. Another shop they run in Gillette will remain open, according to Alicia.

The decision was difficult but necessary as their business has been squeezed by increased state regulation on kratom and CBD products, as well as a proliferation of vape shops owned by larger out-of-state companies, according to Sam.

“This area is so saturated with vape shops,” he said. “I’m just tired of it, mentally. None of the legislators are listening. I don’t understand it one bit, because it’s all small businesses that are affected, so it’s a shame to tell you the truth.”

A bill regulating the sale, testing and use of kratom products was passed by the Wyoming Legislature this season. It creates stiff penalties for those who sell it to anyone under the age of 21. Another bill that would have outlawed kratom in the state was not introduced to the house.

According to the Mayo Clinic, kratom is an herbal extract derived from leaves of evergreen trees that grow in southeast Asia. The extract has been used as a stimulant like caffeine, and in higher doses to provide pain or anxiety relief.

The restrictions on kratom come a year after the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a Wyoming-specific ban on certain THC derivatives. Wyoming’s and Idaho’s cannabis laws remain strict while surrounding states have embraced legalization in some form, if not altogether.

“I don’t know if Wyoming’s ever going to do it,” Sam said. “It just seems like with new hemp regulations, it’s like we’re taking 10, 15 steps backwards. It’s just sad, because we worked really hard. I had two older ladies come in on Saturday and they gave me a hug; they’ve been shopping with us since we opened.”

Vape shops throughout the community have felt pressure since District Attorney Dan Itzen sent a letter to local stores in March, cosigned by area police chiefs and the sheriff. The letter warned of a crackdown, stating that law enforcement would visit shops in early April. However, Cielo Guerra, owner of Dr. Chronic’s Concentrates & Vapes, told Oil City News that has yet to occur.

Still, Cielo said the letter prompted him to pull roughly $1 million worth of inventory off store shelves and led to a 50% reduction in sales. “It’s not just me, it’s all of us in Wyoming,” he said. “I’ve talked to store owners throughout the state and everyone is feeling this.”

Platte Hemp Company, located at 134 E. Midwest Ave., will permanently close after business hours on April 30, Sam said.