A St. Louis County bill aimed at preventing intoxicating cannabis products from being sold outside of dispensaries is dead, after meeting heavy resistance from retailers and distributors. St. Louis County Councilwoman Lisa Clancy, the bill sponsor, dropped the bill during the council's Tuesday meeting.
"After engaging with stakeholders and hearing a lot of thoughtful discussion between stakeholders and also the council, I have come to the conclusion that there is not a pathway at this time or a consensus to move forward on this," Clancy said during the meeting.
Clancy said she's hopeful state legislators will address the "very serious public health and safety issues" when they reconvene in January. State law prohibits marijuana products from being sold outside of dispensaries.
However, thousands of gas stations and other stores statewide currently sell THC products – such as gummies, beverages and vapes – that get people high the same way that marijuana does. The difference, producers say, is that the products are made from hemp. Lab and cannabis experts testified last week before the council that there's no way to ensure these products aren't made from black-market marijuana without a track-and-track system like the one that's required for regulated marijuana.
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