Jefferson City, MO: Most commercially available hemp products sold at retail stores in Missouri contain quantities of THC well above federal standards, according to an analysis provided by the Missouri Cannabis Trade Commission.
Representatives purchased 55 hemp products from unlicensed retail outlets. Each of the products was later subjected to third-party analytical testing.
Consistent with findings from other jurisdictions, most unregulated products tested positive for levels of THC exceeding federal guidelines (0.3 percent THC). Some products contained synthetically derived cannabinoids. Nearly one-third of samples tested positive for the presence of potentially harmful contaminants, like heavy metals.
A recently published report provided by the District Attorneys for several Pennsylvania counties similarly determined that over 90 percent of products labeled as ‘hemp’ exceed federally regulated THC thresholds.
NORML and other groups have urged the FDA to establish regulatory guidelines governing the production, testing, labeling, and marketing of hemp-derived cannabinoid products. In 2021, NORML issued a report on delta-8-THC and other novel synthetically derived cannabinoids, cautioning that these unregulated products are often mislabeled and may contain impurities.
Congressional lawmakers in recent days have advanced funding legislation tightening federal guidelines on how much THC is permissible in federally defined hemp products and prohibiting the sale of synthetically-derived products. The revised standards are set to take effect in one year.
Read the full text of The Missouri Hemp Hoax Report.