LAKE SAINT LOUIS, Mo. — A group of Missouri police chiefs are calling for the ban of Delta 8 products. The psychoactive hemp product is legal and unregulated, but it's putting kids in the hospital.
Lake Saint Louis Police Chief, Chris DiGiuseppi, said concerns over these products are growing.
"It's a real problem," he said.
Currently, kids and teenagers can walk into gas stations in Missouri and buy Delta 8 products. DiGiuseppi is told they can contain up to 5 grams of Delta 8 in one package for some products.
"It's packaged to look like candy and snacks, so it seems to be targeting our younger people, marketing to them, and since it looks like candy and looks like snacks, it doesn't look like it's that harmful," he said.
It is extremely harmful though, since Delta 8 is an intoxicating substance that's extracted from hemp and mixed with chemicals to create a high.
DiGiuseppi said this is extremely problematic because of how harmful it is, and law enforcement already has its hands full with the ongoing opioid crisis and fentanyl overdoses.
"We have a drug problem, as it is, one more intoxicating substance that's readily available and easily attained by our youth, we just don't need it," he said.
That's why DiGiuseppi and chiefs across the state are spending their days in Jefferson City.
He said they are testifying on behalf of Senate Bill 984 and House Bill 1781, which would regulate Delta 8, and get it out of kids' reach.
According to DiGiuseppi, the legislation would:
- Regulate the Delta 8 products, just like the state does with tobacco, alcohol, beer and marijuana.
- Ban the sale of these products to those under the age of 21.
- Mandate childproof packaging.
- Prohibit these from being marketed to Missouri children.
- Mandate that these products are lab tested.
- Place the Missouri Department of Health in charge of regulating the products.
- Ensure consumers know exactly what is in the product by enforcing proper labeling requirements.
"There's a false narrative out there that some of the proponents of the product had been putting out about how it's going to help law enforcement if we really don't have to regulate this stuff, if we don't have to enforce it and that's just not true. This isn't going to help law enforcement. I believe our police leadership across the state agrees with that and says that when you put another intoxicating substance that's readily available, looks like candy, and anybody can buy it, it's going to negatively impact us," DiGiuseppi said.
DiGiuseppi is part of the Law Enforcement Legislative Coalition, a new organization that units Missouri police chiefs by representing them on legislative matters that affect public safety.
"We wanted to have something that could actually get out to the public, educate people on these public safety issues, so we could get public support for help and assistance when we need it from the public," he said.
That's exactly why the group is taking a stand with the Delta 8 products, which is already causing harm. According to DiGiuseppi, ten students at Sumner High School in St. Louis got high after buying the products at a nearby gas station. Four of the students were taken to the hospital and all ten recovered.
"It is a public safety threat, and we need to get it cleared up. We need to get it banned, ideally, and then if not, at least, restricted and regulated to where it's not being sold in these locations," he said.
It's not just police departments in Missouri that are trying to put an end to this. Illinois lawmakers are pushing it, as well. Senate Bill 3926 is moving through the Illinois legislature. It would ban Delta 8 and businesses caught selling it would face a $10,000 fine.
DiGiuseppi said agencies across the state are answering questions about the cannabinoid.
"When I talked to my colleagues at the DEA, they tell me that this is one of the most prominent topics that's brought up to them when they do public education events," he said.
That's why DiGiuseppi took to Facebook to educate his community on this ongoing problem. He said every chief within the Law Enforcement Legislative Coalition is pleading for parents and residents to help in fixing this public safety threat.
"We really need the public to support law enforcement, to step up and call our lawmakers and just urge them to ban this stuff," he said.
Both SB 984 and HB 1781 were voted out of committee. The bills will be sent to the floor for debate.