Intoxicating Hemp Product Ban Stalls In Missouri Senate

A proposal to ban intoxicating hemp products stalled in the Missouri Senate on Wednesday following a lengthy discussion between lawmakers, the Missouri Independent reports.

State Sen. Karlya May, a Democrat from St. Louis, led the two-hour filibuster against the proposal by state Sen. David Gregory, a Republican from Chesterfield. The bill seeks to ban hemp products containing more than 0.4 milligrams of THC per container and with a total dry weight THC concentration greater than .3%, including delta-8, delta-9 THC, and other intoxicating cannabinoids commonly sourced from hemp. Gregory argues the bill would align the state with federal restrictions that President Donald Trump (R) signed into law last year as part of a spending bill to reopen the federal government, and which are set to take effect this November.

However, May argued that it didn’t make sense to immediately mirror the incoming federal restrictions, as the rules are likely to see changes before they take effect.

“When Congress voted on this whole thing, this was just literally to reopen the government. I mean, this wasn’t even a thoughtful conversation.” — May, via the Missouri Independent

May proposed amending the bill on Wednesday to mirror a House proposal by state Rep. Dave Hinman (R), which would allow intoxicating hemp products only if they become federally approved. May said that aligning with Hinman’s proposal, which awaits consideration by the full House, would be a “good compromise” and would still keep Missouri’s hemp rules aligned with federal law.

Meanwhile, a bipartisan federal proposal introduced last month would delay the incoming hemp restrictions by two years.