HANNIBAL, Mo. (WGEM) – Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe has a bill on his desk that has the potential to change the way many in the Show-Me State can purchase THC products.
House Bill 2641 proposes a change that would result in all intoxicating hemp products being taken off some shelves starting on Nov. 12.
The bill would make general stores unable to sell products made with THC and restrict sales to licensed marijuana dispensaries.
Small business owners are concerned for what this change will mean for them and their workers. Some are working to change the possible legislation.
“What we are trying to do is get him to listen and veto this bill,” said Scott Stubblefield, managing partner of Hannibal’s Big Heads Gifts and Stuff.
Stubblefield also said this cut in his revenue would cause him to fire two of his employees.
“It is so imperative, this bill is going to be detrimental to my business, and literally to tens and hundreds of thousands of employees here in Missouri,” said Stubblefield.
He said this legislation is no longer due to negative marijuana stigmas.
“I think the stigma has been broken a long time ago. I don’t think this is about stigma. I think this is about money, and it is about control,” said Stubblefield. “And I am not making a lot of money, but I have no control, why give it to somebody else that has all the control and is making all the money.”
Stubblefield said this would cause their customers to pay more for their products.
Nick Thomas, CEO of Big Heads Gifts and Stuff, said he believes it is due to selfishness of larger companies.
“I think people should be represented in America, not just people who have money,” said Thomas. “The industry as a whole has been taken over by thugs at MoCann[Trade] that have the money to throw around, to make the laws benefit them only. If you’re rich, you can play the game – if not, you can’t.”
Gov. Kehoe mentioned the legislation in his January State of the State address as a priority.
Big Heads Gifts and Stuff has begun a petition to halt the legislation, and have the governor alter and work with hemp small businesses and farms in Missouri.
If the bill passes, general stores would be required to remove products such as seltzers and gummies, and it would also require marijuana dispensaries to destroy customer data upon request.
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