DHSS set to restrict the sale of unregulated cannabis products

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services will start enforcement of unregulated psychoactive cannabis products next month.

In a press release Thursday, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced that it will begin to take steps to restrict unapproved psychoactive cannabis products starting Sept. 1.

This is in continuation with Executive Order 24-10, an order by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Aug 1.

The order will prohibit the sale of unapproved food products containing cannabis, or edibles, often sold at the counters of gas stations, liquor stores and smoke shops.

During the Aug. 1 news conference, both Gov. Parson and Attorney General Andrew Bailey displayed some of the unregulated products whose packaging closely resembles popular candies.

According to the DHSS press release, since 2018, there has been a 600% increase in the number of children under 5 experiencing cannabis poisoning. Nationally, poison control centers have documented that around 2 in 5 instances with children include Delta 8, an unregulated, non-FDA-approved hemp product.

"These packages are not clearly labeled or it would be extremely easy for a child to consume large quantities of these products thinking it was their favorite candy," Parsons said during the news conference.

According to the press release, this order does not apply to products or businesses under the control of the Division of Cannabis Regulation by DHSS.

Since Aug. 1, DHSS has been educating impacted retailers and wholesalers.

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