Missouri House Passes Intoxicating Hemp Product Ban

The Missouri House of Representatives on Thursday passed HB 2641 to ban hemp-derived THC sales in the state, the Missouri Independent reports.

The bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Dave Hinman (R), said the ban on intoxicating hemp products would essentially mirror the incoming federal crackdown on hemp-derived THC approved in a spending bill last year.

“We’re not pioneering anything new here. What Missouri is doing…is simply aligning our state statutes with the federal action so our law enforcement, the highway patrol, local prosecutors and the attorney general’s office can work in tandem with our federal partners. No gaps, no loopholes.” — Hinman, during Thursday’s debate

State Rep. Matthew Overcast (R) argued against the proposal, which aims to equate intoxicating hemp products with state-legal cannabis products. If that were the case, hemp THC product sales would only be allowed in licensed cannabis dispensaries.

“We cannot rewrite voter adopted language by statute simply because certain market participants prefer less competition,” Overcast said in the report. “If protecting children was truly the goal, we know what works: age restrictions, standards, clear labeling, packaging safeguards, responsible retail rules.”

House lawmakers passed the bill 109-34. The proposal moves next to the Senate for consideration.