“After listening to stakeholders’ thoughtful discussions and the discussion of the Council, I came to the conclusion that at the moment there isn’t a path or consensus for moving forward.”
By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent
The St. Louis County Missouri Bill aimed to prohibit the sale of intoxicating marijuana products outside of dispensaries was defeated after retailers and distributors voiced their opposition.
Lisa Clancy from the St. Louis County Council dropped the bill at the Tuesday council meeting.
Clancy stated during the meeting that “after engaging with stakeholders, and listening to a lot thoughtful discussion between stakeholder and the council I’ve come to the conclusion there is no consensus or pathway to move forward at this point.”
Clancy expressed her hope that state legislators would address “very serious issues of public safety and health” at their January reconvening.
The law of the state prohibits marijuana from being sold in dispensaries.
However, thousands of gas stations and other stores statewide currently sell THC products—such as gummies, beverages and vapes—that get people high the same way that marijuana does.
Produced products differ from those made with marijuana because they are hemp-based. Last week, cannabis and lab experts told the council there was no way to guarantee that these products were not made with black market marijuana.
While some liquor stores—including Total Wine—have self-imposed age restrictions on purchasing the beverages, there’s no government agency regulating the products—and that includes who can buy them.
Missouri lawmakers debated a bill for three years to bring all THC products into the same regulatory regime as marijuana. These proposals met with fierce opposition from groups representing convenience store owners, hemp producers, veterans and other associations.
Nick Schroer (R-State Sen.) of Defiance presented a proposal in the spring that made an exception to low dose THC products, which had been on sale for 7 years at Missouri’s liquor and bars. This proposal required that things such as high-dose gummies or THCA flower, and vapes be only sold at marijuana dispensaries.
Schroer’s legislation was filibustered, arguing that the bill would lead to a monopoly in marijuana and hurt small businesses.
Natural hemp contains very little THC (the intoxicating ingredient most commonly associated with marijuana). This potency can however be enhanced with a little science.
While marijuana, from seed to final product, is governed by a state regulatory regime, intoxicating hemp products have been completely unregulated by any governmental agency since 2018—when Congress passed a Farm Bill that legalized hemp.
Clancy’s bill, if passed, would have banned the products in Missouri’s largest county.
Clancy threw out the bill right before another member of council was about to propose a replacement draft.
The Missouri Cannabis Trade Association had earlier in the day urged Clancy to abandon the bill and the other members of the council.
Andrew Mullins is the executive director of MoCannTrade. “We applaud the efforts made by local officials to stop more children from using and buying these unregulated products,” he said. “But it has become clearer that the Missouri State government needs to take the lead on this issue of public safety.”
Mullins asked that the council withdraw this measure and to join an association to lobby in Jefferson City for regulatory reform.
He said that while a patchwork regulation and ban across Missouri’s counties was better than “the current wild west” reality, it would not give law enforcement, parents and teachers the confidence they needed to bring the criminals responsible.
Clancy stated that if state does not take any action next year then “the council may reevaluate and consider.”
“I am hopeful that state officials will consider this for their next session in the winter,” said she. I think that all of us in the council are going to be paying close attention.
First published in Missouri Independent.