Missouri governor limits sales of unregulated cannabis
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson took action against the makers of unregulated cannabis products often sold at the counters of gas stations, liquor stores and smoke shops.
The order issued Thursday takes aim at so-called Delta 8 THC, which is a form of the psychoactive compound in marijuana. However, the compound is derived from hemp instead of marijuana plants.
The order will prohibit the sale of food products containing the substance -- edibles. Parson and Attorney General Andrew Bailey displayed some of the products, which are made to resemble popular candies, and talked about numerous cases of children getting sick from eating them.
"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.
The order will also prohibit the sale of the products at any business with a liquor license.
Bailey said his office has also started an investigation into the products and businesses that sell them.
The governor's office says in a news release that the state has seen a 600% increase in children ages 5 years old and younger going to emergency rooms because of cannabis. Many emergency room incidents are liked to Delta 8, the release says.
“We have seen the negative impacts of unregulated psychoactive cannabis products firsthand,” Department of Health and Senior Services Director Paula F. Nickelson said in prepared remarks. “Numerous Missourians have been adversely affected by consuming foods laced with these products. Disturbingly, children in Missouri and across the nation have been hospitalized after ingesting these substances, and this is unacceptable.”
Parson says Missouri poison control calls regarding cannabis exposure for children under five, rose from seven cases in 2018 to 168 cases in 2023.
Nickelson said the state will begin classifying the substance as "deleterious, poisonous and adultering" under state law, which will allow the state to embargo and condemn those products, starting Sept. 1.
The Missouri Alcohol and Tobacco control said it'll be working with the Department of Health and Senior Services to enforce the guidelines of the executive order.
"Our process for disciplining licensees begins with it could be from just a simple verbal warning on the site to a written warning to a disciplinary action ranging from suspensions, fines to eventually it could be revocation," ATC State Supervisor Mike Leara said.
DHSS Director Paula Nickelson said the best way to get cannabis products is to purchase them from a state-licensed dispensary.
