JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri Senate voted late Wednesday to ban intoxicating hemp products, including delta-8 THC, in a contentious 22-11 vote after hours of debate. The measure, attached to a broader agriculture bill, would close what sponsors call a ‘legal loophole’ allowing unregulated psychoactive compounds to be sold at gas stations and convenience stores.
The vote follows months of lobbying by licensed cannabis growers who argue hemp-derived intoxicants undercut Missouri’s legal marijuana market. ‘These products are being marketed to kids with cartoon packaging and candy flavors,’ said one legislative staffer familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Missouri legalized recreational marijuana in 2022 but left hemp-derived cannabinoids in a regulatory gray area. The federal 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp containing less than 0.3% delta-9 THC, leading to an explosion of synthetically derived alternatives like delta-8 and delta-10 THC that produce similar psychoactive effects.
Industry groups immediately condemned the vote. ‘This is government overreach that will destroy thousands of small businesses,’ said a spokesperson for the Hemp Industries Association in an emailed statement. Analysts note at least 17 other states have imposed similar restrictions since 2021.
The bill now moves to the House, where observers predict tougher opposition. Some Republican lawmakers have signaled concerns about restricting consumer access to products currently sold as smoking cessation aids and pain relievers.