Missouri Legislature Bans Intoxicating Hemp Products

Missouri’s General Assembly, last week, sent to the Governor a proposed bill. First Alert 4 reported that a bill was sent to Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) last week, which sought to prohibit the sale of hemp-based intoxicants starting on November 12.

House Bill 2641 is a proposal to bring state laws in line with upcoming federal policies pushed by Republican legislators and signed by President Trump into law last year. The changes made as part of the spending bill for reopening the federal governments were intended to crush the growing market in hemp-derived THC, and other cannabinoids.

The bill sets a new definition for industrial hemp that excludes “cannabinoids that are not capable of being naturally produced” by cannabis, and “cannabinoids that are capable of being naturally produced … but that were synthesized or manufactured outside the plant.”

This proposal prohibits cannabis retail stores from using the word “dispensary” and states that this term can only be used by licensed retailers.

The bill allows retailers to sell cannabis products that do not exceed 0.4 milligrams THC.

The bill was approved by both chambers of Congress with bipartisan approval.

In the meantime, Missouri Attorney general Catherine Hanaway, last month, sent cease-and-desist letters, to 33 retailers, who allegedly sold cannabis products or products that are marketed as marijuana, without a permit.