DENVER, June 15, 2017 /Weed Wire/ — BBB is issuing a warning after receiving a tip through ScamTracker that has led to the investigation of two web-based businesses-Denver Marijuana and Denver Smoke Buds. The BBB is investigating whether these businesses have attempted to capitalize on the legality of Colorado’s medical and recreational marijuana laws by falsely posing as legitimate sources for this substance. Of greatest concern is the mail delivery service that both businesses claim to offer, which violates both state and federal law.

Denver Marijuana

Denver Marijuana operates a website that advertises the sale and delivery of marijuana, marijuana edibles, and cannabis oil and seeds. The site also includes links relating to the sale other substances such as “bath salts” and “research chemicals.” The website advertises delivery to “most countries in the world” including the US, Canada, Australia, Spain, Italy, the UK, “Ice Land,” and New Zealand.

“Research chemicals” typically refer to experimental psychoactive drugs that mimic the effects of illegal drugs and substances. Because these substances have slightly different chemical structures than the drugs they intend to mimic, they occupy a legal grey area.

Denver Marijuana has no verifiable principal or owner, and is not registered with the Colorado Secretary of State under the name Denver Marijuana or Denver Marijuana Online. The telephone number listed on the business’s website is 216-586-4419, which is a Google Voice number with a Cleveland, OH area code.

The BBB has associated two business addresses with Denver Marijuana, neither of which appear to be or to have been legitimate. Denver marijuana was previously listed at 347 South Colorado Blvd, which is the physical address for a liquor store called City Wine. Denver Marijuana recently changed the address listed on its website to 338 South Colorado Blvd, although the Denver Property Taxation and Assessment system does not show a property at that location.

The “research chemicals” link on the Denver Marijuana website leads to a separate website, which lists a business address of 156 Pecos Street, Denver, CO 8022. This address appears not to be a real business address and is located in a residential area.

In addition to the warning it is issuing, the BBB is conducting an advertising review of Denver Marijuana as of February 21, 2017 for trademark infringement, as the business previously advertised BBB Accreditation on the website http://denvermarijuanaonline.com/. The BBB Accreditation Trademark was recently removed from the site, and BBB has received no response to its communications with Denver Marijuana regarding the trademark infringement. Denver marijuana has never been BBB accredited.

On March 20, 2017, an additional Advertising Review case was opened due to Denver Marijuana’s use of a “100% satisfaction guarantee” seal. This guarantee remains on the website and the BBB has not received a response to any of its communications with Denver Marijuana regarding this matter.

Referring to Denver Marijuana, a complainant stated on ScamTracker that, “They also advertise a given service for a given price and they try to request additional funds for “insurance” that is refundable when the package arrives. Everything they do is illegal. I don’t know if they can be caught.”

Denver Smoke Buds

Denver Smoke Buds is an online shopping site that advertises shipment and delivery of marijuana and marijuana products including marijuana, hash, and cannabis oil and seeds, as well as a guided process to help customers receive an “online medical marijuana card.”

The website further advertises that Denver Smoke Buds is “connected with dispensaries and research partners in the industry,” but it does not specifically name any of these parties.

There is no Secretary of State listing in Colorado for Denver Smoke Buds and there is no principal or owner connected with this business. The company website lists no physical address besides “Denver, CO 80222” despite claiming to have won “best of” awards from both the Colorado Springs Gazette and Colorado Springs Independent (the Gazette does not even offer such an award for marijuana dispensaries). BBB attempted to reach an owner of the business via telephone, but the person who answered the phone hung up before the BBB could clarify a name or address.

The Denver Smoke Buds website offers confusing information regarding the company’s location. The page of the website titled “about: our company” states that “Denver Smoke Buds Labs Inc. is headquartered in Atlanta Georgia and is a respected authority and advisor to commercial, governmental and education entities focused on the cannabis industry.” Another page of the website claims that the company’s head office is in Denver, Colorado and their cash office is in Atlanta, Georgia. There is no registered entity with the Georgia Secretary of State by the name of “Denver Smoke Buds.”

BBB has conducted a review of Denver Smoke Buds’s advertising and has concerns with the following statements found on the business’s website as of January 31, 2017:

• “…were voted #1 and #2 in the Independent’s 2013 Best of Awards. In 2014 and 2015. We won First Place/Gold in the Independent’s Best Of Award for both North and South Colorado Springs. In 2014, and 2015. Our dispensaries were voted Best of the Gazette 1st place winner.”
• “…guaranteed delivery…”
• “Hurry up!!! Grab this offer before it’s sold out!”

BBB has received no substantive response to any communications with this business.

BBB is urging caution when dealing with either of the above companies.