• Jury finds HBI engaged in unfair competition and violated the Illinois Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
• Federal Court orders HBI to cease promoting, selling, distributing, shipping, and delivering certain products.

Republic Brands, a distributor of rolling papers and smoking accessories, has obtained a permanent injunction in a federal lawsuit against defendant HBI International requiring HBI to cease making claims about its RAW Organic Hemp rolling papers.

On January 31, 2023, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois permanently enjoined HBI from making certain claims about its products and ordered HBI to “immediately” cease manufacturing, ordering, or replenishing its inventory with goods that fail to conform to the court’s order. The injunction order follows a jury’s verdict that HBI, the distributor of rolling paper brands RAW, Elements, Juicy Jays, Pay-Pay, and Skunk, engaged in unfair competition and violated the Illinois Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act through its packaging and promotional activities.

The court enjoined HBI from continuing to state, imply, or suggest that it operates or contributes funds or sales proceeds to a charitable entity or foundation referred to as the “RAW Foundation” or making reference to the “RAW Foundation” in text or images because in its December 6, 2022 ruling, the court found that no such foundation even existed despite HBI’s prior promotional claims.

Additionally, HBI for more than a...

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