Governor Parson releases statement on Secretary of State’s refusal to accept emergency cannabis regulations
Governor Mike Parson has formally criticized Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft for refusing to approve an emergency rulemaking process related to Executive Order 24-10, which is aimed at prohibiting the sale of unregulated psychoactive cannabis products in Missouri. Governor Parson’s rebuke comes in response to Ashcroft’s decision not to sign off on the emergency rules, submitted by the Missouri Department of Public Safety.
“Without question, our office and hundreds of thousands of parents and grandparents across the state view the matter of protecting Missouri children as an emergency in need of immediate action,” Governor Parson wrote in a letter to Secretary Ashcroft. He further condemned Ashcroft’s actions, stating that the refusal to grant emergency rules is prioritizing “personal vendetta and unregulated, dangerous products over the health and safety of Missouri kids”(2024.08.22 Letter to SOS).
According to Parson’s release, Missouri has seen a significant rise in cannabis-related incidents among children. Since 2018, there has been a 600 percent increase in the number of children aged five and under experiencing cannabis poisoning severe enough to require emergency medical attention. The America’s Poison Control Center has also documented that 41 percent of Delta-8 THC exposures involve children 12 and younger. These unregulated psychoactive cannabinoids pose substantial risks, including poisoning, unexpected intoxication, and exposure to chemical contaminants, with children being particularly vulnerable.
The Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC) was set to implement the emergency rules on September 1, 2024. Following the refusal, DPS and ATC must now pursue the regular rulemaking process, which could take six to eight months.
Governor Parson has directed the ATC to refile the emergency rules for reconsideration, emphasizing the urgency of regulating products, especially those that are marketed toward children.
Parson’s letter can be seen below.