Proponents of medical cannabis have touted cannabidiol as a possible therapeutic treatment for debilitating diseases.

"Regardless of what you find on the shelf in Lincoln or what a store owner tells you, if you know that it contains (cannabidiol), if you possess it or use it, that would be a violation of the law," Capt. Peterson said.

Lincoln police declined to say whether officers have seized any products containing the cannabis compound and would only say the department has several ongoing investigations.

Peterson likened the issue to probes into synthetic marijuana the department led following a spate of K2 overdoses in 2015.

Violators, Bliemeister said, will be held accountable to the full extent of the law and could face prison time and fines similar to those levied against the head shop owners in the K2 case.

Lincoln police will not be inspecting store shelves for lawful products, the drug investigations captain said.

"You have a responsibility to make sure you know what you're selling," Chris Peterson said.