A veterans group in Missouri is condemning state regulators over a September 11 raid of their post, in which officials were searching for unapproved cannabis beverages. The raid occurred “immediately after lowering our flag to half-staff” to honor those lost on 9/11 and in the wars that followed.
VFW Post 2661.
In a social media post, VFW Post 2661 said “The MO Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) raided our VFW Post on the morning of 9/11 in search of “adulterated” beverages that violate Gov. Parson’s hemp-adulturated food product “embargo” which, as he says is intended to “protect children”. To be clear, VFW Post 2661 does NOT sell adulterated products; all beverages are in compliance with Revised MO Statute 196.070, Par 12.2 which states “A food shall not be considered adulterated solely for containing industrial hemp, or an industrial hemp commodity or product”. Also, hemp is Federally legal in all 50 states under the 2018 Farm Bill. Lastly, ALL sales from our canteen are sold to persons 21 and older.”
The group says that “While we normally appreciate visitors to our beautiful Post home, we are not sure that raiding a Veterans of Foreign Wars Post on September 11th immediately after lowering our flag to half-staff in remembrance of the thousands of lives taken from us 23 years ago today and for the 50,000 + Service Members and DoD Civilians that have lost their lives fighting in the wars that stemmed from that horrible day was the best or most respectful time to do it. We also are curious how raiding a VFW canteen for these products achieves the Governor’s “goal” of protecting children.”
The raid came a day after Governor Mike Parson and Attorney General Andrew Bailey held a press conference to announce a joint task force between the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC) to combat the spread of unregulated psychoactive cannabis products in Missouri.
