With the 2018 Farm Bill—a federal act that has allowed hemp distributors to sell unregulated marijuana to individuals with no age restrictions—set to expire in late September, hemp industry members are looking for ways to continue raking in profits from the currently unregulated products. Much has happened within Missouri's hemp market since former Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed Executive Order 24-10 last year in an attempt to ban the sale of intoxicating hemp products in the state, so let's recap what has happened since and where the industry currently remains.
At the time, he claimed that his executive order was driven to protect children from the intoxicating products, specifically pointing out that many of the products have misleading packaging that resembles popular candy brands like Mike and Ike and Airheads.
While the executive order was aimed to take effect the following month on Sept. 1, former Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft refused to sign off on the order, although several retailers distributing the hemp products were investigated by the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS).
On Sept. 17, general counsel for DHSS Richard Moore announced that the department would merely focus on embargoing and condemning products that violate trademark infringement.
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