Des Moines Hemp Retailer Forced to Close Due to Strict THC Laws

Owner of Unkl Ruckus's Smoking Emporium & Skate Shops cites new consumable hemp regulations as reason for shuttering business.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 12:08pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a selection of premium hemp and CBD products arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background, conceptually representing the challenges facing the hemp industry in Iowa due to restrictive regulations.The closure of a Des Moines hemp retailer highlights the impact of Iowa's strict THC regulations on the state's burgeoning cannabis industry.Des Moines Today

A once-growing Des Moines hemp and CBD retailer, Unkl Ruckus's Smoking Emporium & Skate Shops, has been forced to close its doors due to Iowa's rigid new laws governing the allowable THC content in consumable hemp products. The store's owner, Zerron Horton-Herrera, has expressed concerns that the state's actions do not align with its rhetoric around supporting the hemp industry.

Why it matters

The closure of Unkl Ruckus highlights the challenges facing hemp businesses in Iowa, where strict regulations on THC levels have made it difficult for retailers to sell a wide range of hemp-derived products. This raises questions about the state's commitment to fostering a thriving hemp industry, despite its public messaging.

The details

Unkl Ruckus's Smoking Emporium & Skate Shops was a growing hemp and CBD retailer in Des Moines until new consumable hemp regulations took effect in Iowa on July 1, 2024. These laws imposed strict limits on the allowable THC content in hemp products, making it challenging for the store to continue offering a wide selection of items to its customers.

  • New consumable hemp regulations took effect in Iowa on July 1, 2024.

The players

Zerron Horton-Herrera

The owner of Unkl Ruckus's Smoking Emporium & Skate Shops, a hemp and CBD retailer in Des Moines.

Unkl Ruckus's Smoking Emporium & Skate Shops

A hemp and CBD retailer in Des Moines that was forced to close due to Iowa's strict regulations on THC content in consumable hemp products.

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What they’re saying

“Iowa likes to say the right things, but their actions and words do not match.”

— Zerron Horton-Herrera, Owner, Unkl Ruckus's Smoking Emporium & Skate Shops

The takeaway

The closure of Unkl Ruckus's Smoking Emporium & Skate Shops underscores the need for Iowa to re-evaluate its hemp regulations to ensure they are balanced and supportive of the industry's growth, rather than overly restrictive.