Missouri AG Issues Cease and Desist Letters to 18 Hemp Companies

Missouri’s Attorney General, Andrew Bailey, is turning up the heat on the state’s hemp scene, sending out warning letters to 18 businesses over their THCA flower. These notices basically tell shops to stop selling the goods or face legal trouble, claiming THCA is just a workaround for illegal weed. However, there is a catch: legal experts say these letters are informal requests rather than binding law. Since Missouri law does not explicitly define THCA as a controlled substance in this context, the AG might be on shaky ground if this ever hits a courtroom.

For the local community, this is a major buzzkill. THCA flower has become a staple for many smoke shops, sometimes making up nearly 80 percent of their entire inventory. This crackdown feels like a step backward for accessibility, especially since state lawmakers failed to pass clear regulations earlier this year. It matters to every toker because it highlights the ongoing struggle for plant access in the gray market. If these shops get squeezed out, it means fewer options for enthusiasts looking for quality flower outside of the traditional dispensary system.