MOHemp Trade Association responds to “Hemp Hoax” narrative calls out political blockade by marijuana lobby, demands common-sense regulation now
The MOHemp Trade Association (MHTA) is pushing back against recent, erroneous claims against Missouri’s family-and small-business owned hemp producers. These allegations, popularly branded as the so-called “hemp hoax”, ignore years of documented efforts by the hemp industry to secure the very regulations critics now demand.
“For three consecutive sessions, our association has lobbied for clear testing standards, age gating, and responsible packaging for hemp-derived cannabinoids,” said Brooklyn Hill, President of MHTA. “Every legislative session, we’ve put forward common sense proposals and those compromises were stalled or blocked, not by hemp producers, but by lobbyists representing the marijuana establishment who profit from keeping hemp unregulated.”
Echoing MHTA’s position, Representative Matthew Overcast, an industry expert, emphasized:
“Historically, these same organizations have done their best to weaponize state agencies and branches of government against law-abiding Missouri producers…They try to lump compliant Missouri businesses together with a small handful of bad actors to justify crackdowns. I’m hopeful that with new leadership in the Governor’s office and across several state departments, this pattern will end, the weaponizing will cease and the correct interpretations of the law will finally be followed.”
MHTA points out that its members have proactively requested:
• Mandatory 21+ age restrictions on all intoxicating hemp products, with an exception for non–active-duty military personnel ages 18+ and older.
• State-certified testing and labeling standards for safety, potency, and purity.
• Child-resistant packaging and transparent ingredient disclosure.
• Clear separation between legitimate hemp producers and unregulated “pop-up” operators exploiting legal gray areas.
“Instead of supporting sensible rules, certain marijuana lobbyists and their political allies weaponized the confusion they helped create,” continued MHTA President Hill. “They opposed common-sense regulation so they could later point to the lack of it as an excuse to shut hemp down entirely. That’s not public safety, that’s market manipulation.”
FACTS THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO KNOW
• The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp federally, but Missouri lawmakers failed to enact comprehensive rules governing hemp-derived cannabinoids.
• The MOHemp Trade Association has testified in favor of regulation every session since.
• DHSS and the Department of Agriculture have each acknowledged that the state lacks authority and clarity without legislative action.
• Meanwhile, well-funded marijuana lobbyists have pressed lawmakers to treat hemp businesses as competitors to be neutralized, not partners in a regulated economy.
THE PATH FORWARD
MHTA is urging lawmakers to revisit comprehensive hemp regulation in the next legislative session and to adopt the standards MHTA already proposed last year—age-gating, testing, and packaging.
“We’re not asking for a free pass,” said Hill. “We’re demanding the same accountability, the same consumer protection, and the same safety standards any legitimate industry should follow. Missourians deserve regulation that serves the people, not the few who can afford the most lobbyists.”
ABOUT THE MOHEMP TRADE ASSOCIATION
The MoHemp Trade Association represents farmers, processors, retailers, and consumers dedicated to a transparent, fair, and sustainable hemp marketplace. MHTA advocates for sound policy, public safety, and economic opportunity within Missouri’s rapidly evolving hemp industry. For interviews or more information, contact Gregg Keller at gregg@atlasstrategygroup.com or visit www.mohemptrade.org
