JEFFERSON CITY — Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s office said Friday the elections chief was reviewing a new rule Gov. Mike Parson’s office had submitted to crack down on hemp-derived THC sales.
The announcement came a day after Parson urged Ashcroft to reconsider his decision this week to reject emergency rules to limit sales of intoxicating hemp products.
Parson directed his Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control to resubmit the emergency rules after the governor said Ashcroft rejected them on Wednesday.
“Secretary Ashcroft has not made any decision to accept or reject,â€Â JoDonn Chaney, spokesperson for Ashcroft, said late Friday morning.
An emergency rule filed Friday would take effect Monday, Sept. 9, according to an online timeline for rulemaking.
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Parson, in a letter to Ashcroft on Thursday, said the secretary of state was attempting “retribution†for the governor’s endorsement “of another candidate.â€
Ashcroft lost the GOP gubernatorial primary Aug. 6 to Parson’s preferred candidate, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe.
“Secretary Ashcroft had concerns the rule did not meet the legal requirements as defined in statute,†Chaney said in a statement Friday. “He reached out to the executive branch to give them opportunity to explain how it met the requirements, and they did not respond.â€
The fight over sales of hemp-derived THC products in establishments across the state has pitted hemp producers and convenience stores against members of the state’s legal marijuana industry.
Parson issued an executive order Aug. 1 seeking to restrict hemp-derived sales beginning Sept. 1.
Since then, the hemp industry has vocally opposed the new rules, characterizing them as a move to strengthen the regulated cannabis industry’s grip on the market in a state where the state strictly limits licensed operations.
The Missouri Cannabis Trade Association, representing members of the legal industry, has voiced support for Parson’s effort.
Unlike the state-regulated cannabis industry, where sales are limited to a network of state-licensed dispensaries, the Department of Health and Senior Services has not regulated the hemp-derived products.
There are also no specialty taxes on sales and there are no official age restrictions in law.