Vermont CBD retailer arrested for allegedly stiffing hemp farms

A CBD retailer in Vermont has been arrested and charged with theft of service and other charges in cases involving four state hemp farms.

Douglas Bell, the owner of CBD Vermont, a retail store in Waterbury Center, was arrested after writing bad checks.

Bell owes more than $137,000 to local farmers, but an ongoing investigation into at least 10 similar cases could bring total losses up to $500,000, police told Burlington TV station WCAX.

Bell did not respond to interview requests about the case.

Patrick Sullivan, who owns Ananda Gardens, a poultry and vegetable farm in Montpelier, entered a $50,000 contract with CBD Vermont to grow hemp for the retailer to harvest and manufacture CBD products.

Sullivan’s check for $50,000 bounced, and he called the state police. Sullivan said he hopes his experience is a lesson to other farmers.

“Be really careful about growing a big contract for a business, a hemp business.”

More details about this situation are available here.