JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri state officials have established a news task force in efforts to combat the spread of unregulated psychoactive cannabis products.

The task force comes after an executive order to ban certain unregulated hemp-infused products was met with pushback from Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, who rejected emergency rules from the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control in August.

The products in question oftentimes resemble brand-name foods and candies , including Life Savers and Mike & Ike’s, among others. An executive order to ban sales of such unregulated products was expected to take effect on September 1 prior to the refusal of emergency rules.

The task force is a partnership with the Missouri’s Attorney General Office and the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC). Through the task force, the ATC will be responsible for investigating its licensees who sell unregulated psychoactive cannabis products in their facilities, collecting evidence of deceptive marketing practices, and referring matters to the attorney general’s office.

Attorney General Andrew Bailey will create a specialized new unit within its Consumer Protection division to evaluate referrals from ATC and take legal action.

“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,” Bailey said. “We will enforce the law to protect our children every step of the way.”

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Additionally, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services will continue to embargo unregulated psychoactive cannabis food products being sold, manufactured, or delivered in Missouri that do not originate from an “approved source” according to state and federal law.

According to an April 2024 health advisory from Missouri DHSS , consuming unregulated psychoactive cannabis products is associated with a risk for poisoning, unexpected intoxication, impairment of cognitive function, nausea, vomiting, and more.

Gov. Mike Parson said Tuesday a major reason for the crackdown is the alarming number of kids with cannabis poisoning.

“There are no federal regulations on this substance. Without appropriate guidelines for packaging, their content, quality, and safety cannot be assured,” Julie Weber, director of the Missouri Poison Center, said.

“The packaging is made appealing. It has bright colors, cartoon images; it mimics store-bought sweets and candies. Most children eat the candy and gummies thinking it’s okay to eat. In 2018, my team at the Missouri poison center managed seven cases in children five and younger. Just last year, we saw 168 more of these exposures.”

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