St. Louis County Council Halts Bill to Regulate Cannabis Products
St. Louis County Councilwoman Lisa Clancy has withdrawn a proposed bill aimed at banning unregulated intoxicating cannabis products from being sold outside of licensed dispensaries. The decision came during a council meeting held on October 3, 2023, after the proposal faced significant opposition from retailers and distributors. Clancy stated, “After engaging with stakeholders and hearing a lot of thoughtful discussion… I have come to the conclusion that there is not a pathway at this time or a consensus to move forward on this.”
The bill sought to address concerns about public health and safety related to the sale of THC products, such as gummies, beverages, and vapes, which are currently available at thousands of gas stations and convenience stores across Missouri. Although state law prohibits the sale of marijuana products outside dispensaries, many of these products are derived from hemp and can produce similar intoxicating effects.
Clancy expressed hope that state legislators would tackle the “very serious public health and safety issues” when they reconvene in January 2024. She indicated that if state action does not occur by next year, the council might reconsider its approach.
Concerns Over Regulation and Safety
Last week, experts in cannabis and laboratory testing informed the council that without a robust tracking system, there is no way to ensure that these hemp-derived products are not sourced from illicit marijuana. The absence of regulatory oversight has allowed these products to proliferate without appropriate age restrictions or safety guidelines. Some liquor stores, including Total Wine, have implemented voluntary age checks for customers purchasing THC beverages, but no government agency currently regulates these sales.
For the past three years, Missouri lawmakers have debated legislation aimed at placing all THC products under a unified regulatory framework akin to that governing marijuana. Proposals have faced strong pushback, particularly from associations representing convenience stores, hemp producers, and veterans. Earlier this year, Republican state Senator Nick Schroer introduced a bill that would have permitted the sale of low-dose THC beverages while restricting higher potency products to dispensaries. The proposal was met with resistance from fellow lawmakers, including Senator Karla May, who argued it risked creating a monopoly for the marijuana industry.
The issue of regulation has been complicated since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp. As a result, intoxicating hemp products have been largely unregulated, leaving consumers with little protection against potentially harmful products.
Future Directions and Advocacy
Following the decision to drop the bill, the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association urged the council to focus efforts on advocating for statewide regulations. Andrew Mullins, executive director of MoCannTrade, stated, “We appreciate the efforts of local elected officials… but it is becoming clearer that it’s Missouri state government that needs to lead the way on this public safety issue.” He emphasized the need for a cohesive regulatory approach rather than a fragmented system across Missouri’s counties.
Clancy reiterated her commitment to monitoring state legislative developments and expressed optimism that the upcoming session could yield significant progress. “I think all of us on the council will be watching it carefully,” she said.
As the conversation surrounding the regulation of intoxicating cannabis products continues, the future of public health and safety in Missouri remains at the forefront of discussions among lawmakers, retailers, and advocacy groups.
