The $28-billion dollar hemp industry is expected to see significant changes with the passing of recent legislation at both the state and federal levels, with cannabis products becoming less accessible to Owensville residents beginning Nov. 12.

State officials, media and other invited guests met in Governor Mike Kehoe’s office Thursday, April 23, for the signing of four bills including the Intoxicating Cannabinoid Control Act (ICCA) — which redefines hemp with the incoming federal definition that is set to take effect the same mid-November date.

Federal changes were signed into law following a 43-day long government shutdown in 2025 through a funding package, House Resolution 5371. The resolution included a provision in Section 781 that effectively banned the vast majority of intoxicating hemp-derived products.

In the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, commonly referred to as the “Farm Bill,” Congress legalized hemp by adopting a broad definition that included cannabinoids and derivatives. This allowed intoxicating hemp-derived and synthetic products to be sold outside the licensed cannabis market.

Following Missouri’s passing of Amendment 3, legalizing marijuana use in the state in 2022, approximately 40,000 stores are currently selling hemp products — some licensed under the amendment, and others operating through what many would consider a “loophole” in the Farm Bill which the recent legislature sought to close.

Currently, the federal definition of hemp is cannabis that contains more than 0.3-percent delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) dry weight with marijuana being defined as anything exceeding that value. As of November, the definition expands to cannabis containing more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per serving, more than 0.3-percent of total THC  – including tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) — or synthetic or unnatural cannabinoids.

This distinction determines how the substance is regulated with medical marijuana currently legal in a total of 38 states with 24 of those allowing recreational use, 12 states with no comprehensive medical program and only four states not allowing marijuana at all.

Cannabinoids are a group of chemical compounds that contribute to the plant’s effects. The most well known cannabinoid is THC, specifically delta-9 THC, which is the primary psychoactive compound responsible for effects such as euphoria, sedation, appetite stimulation and cognitive function changes.

In the raw plant, THC exists primarily as THCA, a non-intoxicating precursor that converts to delta-9 THC when heated, also known as decarboxylation. Other cannabinoids include cannabidiol (CBD), which is non-intoxicating, and cannabigerol (CBG), a precursor involved in the formation of other cannabinoids.

Kehoe fielded several questions regarding the bill, advising that they were mirroring the current federal legislation which, by executive order, was updated later the same day by U.S. President Donald Trump to reduce cannabis from a schedule 1 drug — one with a high risk of abuse and no medical uses — to a schedule 3 drug.

“There’s two sides to this issue and unfortunately the government gets to say yes or no to a bill — it doesn’t get to design a bill,” Kehoe said. “Protecting kids is, I think, a primary responsibility of elected officials and this is very important to protect our kids from having access to those harmful drugs.”

The bill was originally led by Republican Representative Dave Hinman of District 103, covering part of O’Fallon in St. Charles County, and was carried through the Senate by Republican Senator David Gregory of District 15, covering West St. Louis County suburbs.

Both men joined Kehoe for the signing of the bipartisan bill that received 151 yes votes and 28 no votes.

Kehoe and his staff advised that legislation is subject to the building process, so now that this bill has been passed, other laws can be created for additional related needs.

Local Representative Bruce Sassmann echoed the same, advising The Republican that the language compliments the constitutional language approved by voters on Amendment 3.

“There have been at least a dozen times HB2641, the (ICCA) have been considered for a vote, either in committee or on the floor of the House and Senate,” Sassmann shared.

Sassmann further stated that the process took three months of deliberation with a total of 85-percent of the members of legislature agreeing to the amended bill language.

“It is never simple or easy,” he shared.

Local cannabis stores remain eager to carry out their missions of providing local access to the products many rely on — at least until the November deadline.

Multiple local stores are expected to no longer sell cannabis products in their current form once that date arrives – including The Abduction Dispensary of Owensville, which opened Oct. 1, 2025.

While on a shopping trip at the local Walmart, Merle George spotted a space for lease beside El Tapatio and convinced business owner Jesse Turner to open doors in Owensville — an area he said he noticed had no competition and a community that could use support. He was working at the Union location at the time.

Beginning in September, he started working to prepare the new location for business. With a starting pool of 57 interested candidates and the ultimate customer experience in mind, he held 15 interviews and filled three roles: one assistant manager and two budtenders.

George had a specific vision for each customer that comes through the door and has trained his staff to ensure each one has a good experience.

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression,” he said.

After checking identification to verify the customer is over the age of 21, staff have been trained to ask discovery questions to help learn exactly what the customer is looking for.

“I want to find out what (they) need,” he said. “I just love helping the community — having the opportunity to actually help people and educate people on terpenes, cannabinoids, what’s the difference, what can help with what... what will help with this, what will help with that. It’s just nice to be able to help people.”

George believes his role is to provide the community with a convenient and economic option.

He shared that his passion for the industry began through his own struggles with western medicine, recalling a 2015 accident that caused lasting pain.

“They stuck 20 needles down my spine, fed me with a bunch of pain pills — I just hate that crap,” he shared.

Thereafter, he started studying cannabis to become an informed patient and later decided to obtain his agent card, giving him an opportunity to share his knowledge with others.

His preferred strains included those with terpenes: myrcene, providing body relaxation; limonene, affecting mood, stress levels and pain perception; beta-caryophyllene, reducing inflammation; and linalool, providing nervous system sedation — all collectively helping with pain.

“People would be surprised on how much an actual herbal plant can do better over these stupid farce pharmaceutical(s),” George said.

Terpenes are such an important, defining aspect of the cannabis user’s experience that he requires his staff to memorize them within the first 90 days.

“Ninety-nine percent of the customers that come in here are happy when they come in and happy when they leave,” he said. “And, if they ain’t happy when they come in, they’re sure as hell happy when they leave, just because the customer service that my people give is top notch.”

George shared that he loves when customers come back and share stories with him of how the products helped them with sleep, neuropathy and more.

“I wish we could get to a time in life where people cared about people and not just corporations getting richer,” he said. “Whenever you have a place like this that can service a community and give them everything they need for a lot lower price than the counterparters — that helps the community.”

He shared that Turner, a marine veteran and candidate for District 11 of the South Carolina House of Representatives, shares the same desire — so much so that he offers discounts at all of his locations for veterans, medical users and senior citizens as well as a cost that has the tax factored in to provide a flat rate for the customer.

Come November, they will have to legally close their doors or completely change their product line.

Other stores expect similar fares, such as the SlapHappy Hemporium of Rosebud, that recently called themselves a “company on death row” after Kehoe’s signing of the bill.

Unless something changes the legislation before the November date, area residents will have only the next six and a half months to purchase their cannabis products in Owensville. After that, they will have to drive to a licensed facility, with the closest being in St. James, Washington, or Rolla.

For those seeking more information on the history of cannabis, several videos can be located on The Abduction Dispensary’s website at letsgetabducted.com/learn.

For more information on the legal battles faced by local stores including Turner’s battle at his sister store in South Carolina, visit www.gasconadecountyrepublican.com.