Missouri's fight against the circulation of unregulated psychoactive cannabis just escalated, with Governor Mike Parson and Attorney General Andrew Bailey revealing plans for a new task force during a press conference at the State Capitol. This initiative, borne out of a clash with uncooperative emergency rules, brings together the Attorney General's Office (AGO) and the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC) in what's being presented as a necessary move to safeguard public health, especially that of children.
An official statement from the Office of Governor details that this partnership will enable ATC to dive into its licensees' dealings, identify deceptive marketing, and flag concerns to AGO — an ostensibly straightforward way to tackle the rampant sale of these products. To align efforts, the Governor and his team have sketched out a narrative of urgency. "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, DPS, DHSS, and other health experts, strongly disagree," Governor Parson said.
In tandem, the AGO is slated to form a special unit within its Consumer Protection Division, explicitly tasked with assessing ATC referrals and wielding the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act (MMPA) as a legal cudgel against continued illegal practices. Attorney General Bailey emphasized the priority of consumer awareness and child safety. “Under state law, Missourians have a right to know what is in the products they or their children consume. That is why we are building on our existing investigation into these harmful, illicit products by formalizing a unit within my Consumer Protection Division that will be dedicated to investigating referrals from the ATC,” he stated in the same announcement.
The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is not sitting on the sidelines either, having set an embargo in motion against unregulated psychoactive cannabis food products not deriving from an approved source. Since the initial blitz that started September 1, they've blitzed through 64 facilities, stumbling upon 39 housing the questionable goods, leading to close to 9,000 products being snagged from the shelves.
The brunt of these concerns comes alongside reports from the Missouri Poison Center of a marked increase in young children's unintended encounters with cannabis products. Julie Weber, the Missouri Poison Center Director, painted a troubling picture according to the Office of Governor: "At the Missouri Poison Center, we have seen a steady increase in exposures related to accessibility and misidentification by children 5 years or younger consuming cannabis," she said. "Our data shows that the total number of cases has doubled every year since 2018."
Officials are urging the public to report any suspicious products, as part of a broader crusade to rein in the unchecked spread of psychoactive substances masquerading as harmless. To report an unregulated product, DHSS asks individuals to lodge complaints at Health.Mo.Gov/Report.
