Tue Sep 10 17:38:00 UTC 2024: ## Missouri Cracks Down on Intoxicating Hemp Candy Targeting Children
**Jefferson City, MO** – Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced the creation of a new unit dedicated to combating the sale of intoxicating hemp candy to children. This move comes after Governor Mike Parson’s recent emergency rule banning all intoxicating hemp food and drinks, citing rising health concerns, particularly among youth.
The new unit will work in conjunction with the Department of Health and Senior Services and the Department of Public Safety’s Alcohol and Tobacco Control Division, forwarding cases for potential prosecution. “Missourians have a right to know what’s in the products they or their children consume,” said Bailey. “We are building on our existing investigation into these harmful, illicit products.”
Parson, who has been vocal about the deceptive packaging of these gummies, called on lawmakers to pass new legislation addressing the issue when they reconvene next year. “They are simply targeting children,” Parson declared. “This is pretty basic stuff. We need to put an end to it.”
House Majority Leader Jon Patterson, who is expected to become the next House Speaker, pledged support for legislation that prohibits marketing cannabis or hemp products to children. This initiative comes in response to alarming data from national poison control centers revealing that roughly 2 in 5 exposures to delta-8 THC products are occurring in children.
The state has already taken action, inspecting 64 facilities since September 1st, with 39 found to have unregulated psychoactive cannabis products on shelves. To date, 8,929 products have been embargoed.
The Missouri Poison Center has witnessed a significant increase in poisoning cases linked to these products, particularly among children under 5. Director Julie Weber highlighted the doubling of such cases each year since 2018, emphasizing the accessibility and misidentification by young children.
This crackdown on intoxicating hemp candy is part of a broader nationwide discussion about the regulation of THC-infused products. While the recent boom in THC-infused beverages, such as seltzers, has been fueled by the 2018 Farm Bill provision for hemp processing, concerns over the potential risks to minors are mounting.
With varying state regulations and increasing scrutiny, the future of THC beverages hinges on striking a delicate balance between consumer safety and market freedom.
First Piper 