Missouri Officials Create Task Force to Combat Unlicensed Cannabis Products

Missouri officials on Tuesday announced a new joint task force to combat the spread of “unlicensed psychoactive cannabis products” in the state. In a press release announcing the task force, Gov. Mike Parson (R) said the task force “will root out these cannabis products being deceptively marketed to our children until such time the General Assembly provides the statutory framework for commonsense regulations.” 

“While there are some out there who want Missourians to believe the proliferation of these harmful products is not an emergency or threat to the well-being of Missouri children, I, along with the Attorney General, [Department of Public Safety], [Department of Health and Senior Services] (DHSS), and other health experts, strongly disagree.” — Parson in a statement 

The task force includes the Attorney General’s Office and the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC). In a statement, Attorney General Andrew Bailey said the task force builds on his office’s “existing investigation into these harmful, illicit products by formalizing a unit within (the) Consumer Protection Division that will be dedicated to investigating referrals from the ATC.” 

Officials said that Since September 1, DHSS has visited 64 facilities, finding 39 with unregulated psychoactive cannabis products available for sale and that, thus far, 8,929 products have been embargoed through the enforcement efforts. 

On August 1, Parson issued an executive order banning the sale of unregulated psychoactive cannabis products. However, that order was rejected by Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, who said the rules did not meet certain state law criteria.