Bill > HB2765

This bill establishes a regulatory framework for hemp businesses in Missouri, specifically focusing on hemp beverages. It defines key terms such as "artificially derived cannabinoid," "hemp beverage," and "hemp business," which includes licensed manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. The bill outlines licensing requirements, prohibiting individuals with felony drug convictions in the last ten years from obtaining licenses and requiring retailers to also hold an alcoholic beverage license. It details the rights and responsibilities of each license type, including restrictions on sales and distribution, and mandates specific packaging, labeling, and testing requirements for hemp beverages to ensure consumer safety and prevent marketing to minors. The bill also introduces an excise tax of seven percent on the retail sale of hemp beverage products and provides a grace period for existing inventory before new regulations take full effect.