Missouri Gov. Signs Bill to Align State Hemp Rules with Federal Changes 

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) last week signed into law the Intoxicating Cannabinoid Control Act. In a statement, the governor said the “legislation ensures that Missourians know the products sold in their communities are safe, regulated, and kept out of the hands of children.” 

“For too long, bad actors have exploited loopholes to market intoxicating products – including candy-like gummies or look-alike products – without meaningful oversight or accountability.” — Kehoe, in a press release 

The bill aligns the state’s definition of hemp with the new federal definition, bringing the regulation of hemp-derived cannabinoid products under existing cannabis regulations. 

President Donald Trump (R) in November signed a spending bill that included new federal rules on hemp products that effectively criminalizes hemp-derived THC and redefines hemp as “grown for the use of the whole grain, oil, cake, nut, hull, or any other non cannabinoid compound, derivative, mixture, preparation, or manufacture of the seeds,” and “grown for purposes of producing microgreens or other edible hemp leaf products intended for human consumption that are derived from an immature hemp plant that is grown from seeds that do not exceed” 0.3% THC. The new regime is set to take effect this November.  

The Missouri law requires non-licensed entities to discontinue the manufacturing or sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products. 

The bill also prohibits cannabis dispensaries or other authorized parties from retaining records or disseminating identifying information of regulated cannabis product consumers, unless the consumer agrees to the creation or retention of records in writing.