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Council holds Bill 15 after hours of public testimony calling for local regulation of intoxicating hemp products
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Summary
After nearly an hour of public testimony from law-enforcement leaders, licensed cannabis operators and scientists urging local rules or a ban on unregulated hemp-derived intoxicants, the Saint Louis County Council said it will hold Bill 15 and schedule a committee of the whole to consider the measure in September.
The Saint Louis County Council on Aug. 12 heard extensive public comment urging passage of Bill 15, a proposal to regulate so-called intoxicating hemp products, and then voted to hold the measure for additional review.
Dozens of speakers — including retired police officials, licensed cannabis business owners and a chemist involved in the regulated marijuana industry — told the council the unregulated products, marketed as delta-8, delta-10, HHC and similar cannabinoids, can be high-potency, mislabeled and packaged to appeal to children. "Allowing unregulated intoxicating hemp products completely avoid Missouri cannabis taxes," attorney Drew Lambert said, arguing the loophole under the 2018 Farm Bill enables what he called "economic exploitation." Lambert added, "If the product is intoxicating, it should be regulated like marijuana, tested, taxed, sold to adults, and packaged safely." (Drew Lambert, attorney and cofounder/Chief Legal Officer at High Fidelity Brands.)
Law enforcement and industry voices also pressed the council. Mike Wiegand, a retired police chief representing the Law Enforcement Legislative Committee, said the products are "packaged to resemble candy" and present a particular risk to youth. "We encourage you to pass St. Louis County Bill 15, the Intoxicating Cannabinoid Control Code, which will enhance public safety throughout our region," Wiegand said. (Mike Wiegand, retired police chief.)
Chemical-safety concerns were raised by Stephanie Sernicek, who holds a Ph.D. in chemistry and operates a licensed marijuana facility in Berkeley. Sernicek described chemical conversion processes that can create delta‑9 THC and other intoxicants from CBD and warned that unregulated production may leave harmful residuals: "Those products ... haven't undergone the same testing that our regulated products have — we don't know if there's other extraction chemicals in there." (Stephanie Sernicek, Ph.D., licensed operator.)
Proponents argued that licensed Missouri businesses pay taxes and meet safety standards, while many hemp-based products on the market are untested and imported. "A majority of these products are imported," said Jeff Rau, a community outreach coordinator for a licensed dispensary; "there is no mandatory testing for these products, for contaminants like pesticides, heavy metals or residual solvents." (Jeff Rau, community outreach coordinator.)
After public comment, Council Member Clancy, who introduced Bill 15, said she would hold the bill to allow a committee-of-the-whole hearing; a date in early September was discussed. The chair recorded the bill as held for further consideration rather than taking a final vote.
Why it matters: Supporters framed the measure as a public-health and consumer-protection response to a federal statutory gap. They cited incidents in other markets — notably the 2019 vaping-related lung injuries — as precedent for local action to require testing, age limits and child-resistant packaging for intoxicating hemp-derived products.
What happens next: Council members said they expect more detailed staff reports and an opportunity for a committee-of-the-whole discussion before any final vote. Council staff and the bill sponsor will circulate additional information to members and stakeholders ahead of that hearing.
