A Missouri House committee voted 11 to 0 today to advance House Bill 2641, a proposal that would dramatically reshape how intoxicating hemp-derived products are treated under state law by classifying them as marijuana and placing them under the state’s existing dispensary system.
If approved by the legislature, the bill would require products such as delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC, THC-O, HHC, and other synthesized or converted cannabinoids to be sold only through Missouri’s licensed marijuana facilities rather than gas stations, smoke shops, CBD stores, or online retailers.
Under the proposal, any hemp-derived product capable of producing intoxicating effects would be legally treated as marijuana. The cultivation, manufacturing, testing, transportation, and retail sale of these products would be limited to businesses licensed under Article XIV of the Missouri Constitution, the same framework that governs medical and adult-use marijuana.
The bill also creates significant penalties for violations. Businesses that continue selling intoxicating hemp products outside the licensed marijuana system would face a $5,000 fine per transaction and a Class D felony charge. The Missouri Attorney General would be given primary enforcement authority, working alongside the Highway Patrol and other state agencies.
In addition to targeting the intoxicating hemp market, the legislation includes new privacy protections for medical marijuana patients. State agencies would be barred from sharing patient and caregiver registry information with the federal government or unauthorized third parties unless compelled by a subpoena or court order. Violations of this provision would be classified as a Class E felony.
The measure would also allow consumers to request that dispensaries not create or retain records containing their identifying information, adding an additional layer of privacy for those purchasing marijuana products.
The section regulating hemp-derived cannabinoid products would only take effect once there’s a change in federal law, which is set to happen late this year. When this happens, Missouri’s framework would automatically shift these products into the state’s marijuana regulatory system.
Today’s committee vote moves the measure closer to a vote by the full House of Representatives.
