Senate bill limiting medical marijuana edibles moving through legislature

By Rachael Dunn

An amended bill from the Missouri State Senate that would greatly limit marijuana-infused products is now in the Missouri House of Representatives.

The bill, Senate Bill 6, is sponsored by Sen. David Sater. An amendment proposed by state Sen. Bob Onder during perfection would prohibit the sale of edible marijuana-infused products with marketing that could appeal to those under 18 years of age.

As amended, the bill would prohibit edibles designed, produced, or marketed, including, but not limited to, lollipops, cotton candy, or candies shaped like humans, animals, cartoons, or fruit. The bill does not specify gummies.

The same bill brings state statute in line with the state constitution, as amended by the people in November 2018 by removing medical marijuana from the definition of a “controlled substance” and from Schedule I of the controlled substances. Marijuana grown lawfully for medical use shall not be classified as a “noxious weed” in state statute under the law and shall not be required to be destroyed. Trafficking offenses involving marijuana shall not include medical marijuana.

Onder’s amendment would also require any edible marijuana-infused products with more than 10 mg of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) be stamped with a diamond containing the letters THC and how many milligrams of THC. Any medical marijuana licensed or certified entity regulated by the Department of Health and Senior Services found to have violated this act shall be subject to Department sanctions, including an administrative penalty.

The same bill contains a number of other provisions relating to drug trafficking and unlawful possession of other drugs, including fentanyl and heroin. 

The bill currently awaits approval by the House Committee on the Judiciary, who conducted a hearing on the bill on April 9.