Missouri Governor Mike Parson and Attorney General Andrew Bailey have announced a taskforce to combat unregulated psychoactive cannabis products in the state.
The taskforce is joint initiative between the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC). ATC will investigate licensees selling unregulated psychoactive cannabis products, and refer matters to the AGO. The AGO will form a specialized new unit within its Consumer Protection division to evaluate and action such cases.
“While there are some out there who want Missourians to believe the proliferation of these harmful products is not an emergency or threat to the well-being of Missouri children, I, along with the Attorney General, DPS, DHSS, and other health experts, strongly disagree,” Governor Parson said.
According to Missouri Poison Center data, the total number of exposure cases in children has doubled every year since 2018. 2018 was the year the Farm Bill introduced a loophole enabling the proliferation of products that contain intoxicating compounds produced by manipulating hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD), which is non-intoxicating.
As well as the new task force, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) will continue its own actions. Since the beginning of this month, DHSS has visited 64 facilities and found 39 with unregulated psychoactive cannabis products present on shelves. The Governor’s office states that to date, 8,929 products have been embargoed through DHSS enforcement efforts.
Early last month, Governor Parson announced he had issued an executive order prohibiting the sale of foods containing psychoactive cannabis compounds; which would also ban the sale of psychoactive cannabis products from retail establishments holding a liquor license. The order was meant to come into force at the beginning of September.
His efforts were frustrated by Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, who refused to sign off on the emergency rulemaking process associated with the order. The Governor accused Secretary Ashcroft of choosing personal vendetta and unregulated, dangerous products over the health and safety of Missouri children. Governor Parson directed the ATC to refile the emergency rules, but said ATC must use the regular rulemaking process; unless the Secretary has a change of heart. This, he said at the time, may delay the effective date of the Order by six to eight months.
