Missouri Governor Says Restricting Hemp THC Products Is ‘Something We Need To Get Done’ As Ban Bill Heads To His Desk

Missouri’s governor says the state needs to take steps to restrict the availability of intoxicating hemp-derived THC products in line with legislation that lawmakers recently sent to his desk.

“At a high level, I’m very much in favor of taking these illegal drugs in the form of the candies and stuff off of the shelves for kids to be able to buy,” Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) said in an episode of  This Week in Missouri Politics that aired on Sunday.

While the governor said his office will “do bill review” on the specific provisions of the legislation that lawmakers passed last week, he generally agrees with its aim.

“The way the legislation is drawn up is it helps us match the federal standard that’s coming down on these issues,” Kehoe said, referring to national restrictions that President Donald Trump signed into law late last year and that are set to take effect this November.

“So it gives everybody, retailers, I think, until November, to get their shelves corrected and get in the right spot,” he said. “But, definitely something we need to get done.”

The legislation that Kehoe is set to decide on, HB 2641 from Rep. Dave Hinman (R), would largely align the state with the forthcoming new federal rules removing products containing more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container from the definition of legal hemp.

Under the Missouri bill, “hemp-derived cannabinoid products shall be considered marijuana and shall be subject to the legal framework” of the state’s marijuana law “under which the purchase, possession, consumption, use, delivery, manufacturing, and sale of marijuana is regulated” by the Department of Health and Senior Services.

The restriction would take effect on November 12, the same date the federal policy is set to go into force.

The legislation also contains provisions to protect marijuana consumers’ privacy and recognize cannabis industry workers’ right to unionize under amendments added in the Senate.