ST. LOUIS — The psychoactive hemp product, Delta-8, has caught the attention of many people and not in a positive way. That's why Today in St. Louis is continuing it series and digging into the concerns surrounding the substance.
Delta-8 is a problem in Missouri and Illinois that many believe has gone too far. Currently, the intoxicating substance, which is extracted from hemp and mixed with chemicals to create a high is legal. Except, it's not regulated and it's making kids sick.
While police chiefs across the state are pushing for regulations, they're not alone. Leaders in the regulated cannabis industry, like Mitch Meyers, also want more restrictions on the 'dangerous' product.
"It is not being made in Missouri. I think people want us to think that small hemp farmers are losing out on an opportunity. This is coming from out of state and probably from China and people are enterprising, right? They're figuring out where the loopholes are, how to make money at the expense of our population, and more importantly, our kids," she said.
Meyers has spent the last decade in cannabis as a partner at BeLeaf Medical, which has 10 facilities and 3 cultivations. Her focus has always been on the benefits of the plant, but getting to where she is today wasn't easy.
"In the very beginning, it was obviously difficult to get approval from states and local communities, as I went around trying to apply for licensing. You had a lot of communities that would shut us out, they did not want medical cannabis in their market," she said.
Eventually, the people of Missouri voted twice to legalize the drug in a controlled, regulated environment, but Meyers said, that market Missourians approved is in 'reverse.'
"We are now seeing it outside of that channel, available to anyone and everyone, including kids, and it's concerning to us," she said.
All of that concern is centered on Delta-8. Not only is the psychoactive hemp product packaged in a confusing way and sold on convenience store shelves, according to Meyers, unlike regulated marijuana Delta-8 is chemically infused and not tested, which is why it can be dangerous.
"We know how they make this product, it's made with a hemp plant, which does not have high levels of THC or Delta-8, that's because they're chemically synthesizing it. They're changing a molecule and it's becoming psychoactive, so to walk into a gas station and see that a kid could just take a package of gummies and have 3,000 milligrams of Delta-8 is horrifying," she said.
5 On Your Side Reporter Mercedes Mackay stopped at a gas station to see it for herself. She walked into the store, bought Delta-8, and never had to show identification.
Meyers said that shows how easy it is for anyone to get a hold of the product and it's a product that's a health risk.
"We've heard of people on ventilators, because they don't understand what's in the product. There's no information, no chain of custody, and we truthfully can't understand how this can be on the market. We continue to fight," she said.
That's why Meyers joined the fight, along with Missouri police chiefs, pushing to get Delta-8 regulated. She said 11 states have already completely outlawed Delta-8 and more are looking into it.
"Hopefully people will understand what a problem it is, and not just in Missouri, it's a problem nationally," she said.
While the first attempt at legislation didn't make it out of the capital, Meyers said the fight is far from over.
"People in Jeff City just need to understand we're not quitting on this issue, just because we didn't succeed last session. It's still a problem for the health and safety of Missourians," she said.
While they wait for the next legislative session, according to Meyers, police chiefs are trying to get city ordinances passed, so Delta-8 can't be sold in their city limits.
After 5 On Your Side's first story aired Tuesday about Delta-8, we received an email from Valley Park City Attorney Tim Engelmeyer. He said by coincidence, Tuesday night, the Valley Park Legislative Committee recommended legislation to address Delta-8. The ordinance will be brought to the full board in August, according to Engelmeyer.
Engelmeyer is also the prosecuting attorney in Chesterfield, where similar ordinances are already passed.
Currently Missouri's Attorney General Andrew Bailey is investigating four companies, as an effort to crack down on the product.