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Missouri lawmakers are grappling with the regulation of hemp-derived intoxicating products, as the Senate hears testimony on the Intoxicating Cannabinoid Control Act (Senate Bill 54, SB54).
Sponsored by State Sen. Nick Schroer, the bill aims to reclassify all intoxicating substances derived from hemp as cannbabis, subjecting them to the same regulations as cannabis sold in licensed dispensaries.
During a packed Senate hearing on Wednesday, January 24, 2025, stakeholders from both the cannabis and hemp industries voiced their support and opposition, highlighting the high stakes for Missouri businesses and consumers.
The legislation comes amid growing concerns over unregulated hemp products flooding convenience stores, gas stations, and online markets, often marketed to children, across the US.
Proponents, such as MoCannTrade, a trade association for Missouri’s cannabis industry, say the measure aligns with the intent of the 2018 Farm Bill, which federally legalized hemp and its non-intoxicating derivatives.
“If a compound from the cannabis plant is intoxicating, it should be regulated as marijuana,” said MoCann lobbyist Thomas Robbins.
Robbins also criticized the practice of chemically altering hemp-derived CBD to create potent synthetic cannabinoids like delta-8 and delta-10 THC. These compounds, which skirt existing regulations, have flooded the market as products labeled ‘diet weed’ or ‘gas station pot,’ often featuring packaging that mimics children’s snacks.
However, representatives of the hemp industry, such as the Missouri Hemp Trade Association, argue the bill would devastate local businesses. Brooklyn Hill, the association’s president, said the legislation would “shut down hundreds of businesses and cost Missourians their jobs,” including her father’s manufacturing company in rural Missouri.
In a move to find middle ground, MoCannTrade has proposed an amendment to allow the continued sale of low-dose hemp-THC beverages in grocery and liquor stores, capped at 5 milligrams of THC per serving. These drinks, however, must exclude synthetically derived THC. Schroer confirmed plans to incorporate such language into a substitute version of the bill.
Despite this compromise, hemp advocates remain opposed. Hill criticized the carve-out as insufficient, while others, like lobbyist Eapen Thampy, voiced concerns about Missouri’s marijuana regulatory framework, which they claim is a ‘licensing monopoly’ that would unfairly force hemp businesses out of the market.
“}]] Missouri lawmakers are grappling with the regulation of hemp-derived intoxicating products, as the Senate hears testimony on the Intoxicating Cannabinoid Control Act (Senate Bill 54, SB54). Read More
