(News Release) Jefferson City, Mo. – Attorney General Chris Koster announced today that his office has filed suit against four retail shops: River City Nutrition in Kirkwood, Planet Health Market in Ellisville, Vapur West in Kansas City, and Main Smoke & Gift Shop in Kansas City, for violating the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act by advertising, offering for sale, and selling hemp extract, including cannabidiol oil (commonly known as “CBD oil”), without a license, in violation of Missouri law. The Attorney General seeks to enjoin their sale of CBD oil.

In 2014, the Missouri Legislature approved the possession and use of CBD oil for Missourians with intractable epilepsy. Purchasers must obtain a signed statement from a neurologist confirming intractable epilepsy that may benefit from treatment with hemp extract, as well as a registration card from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. The Missouri Department of Agriculture administers the issuance of licenses to nonprofit entities to legally grow and process hemp extract, including CBD oil, and distribute the product at licensed care centers to those consumers with valid registration cards.

Beginning in January 2016, the Attorney General’s office sent approximately two dozen letters to shops throughout the state where unlicensed sales had been reported, notifying them of the current legal status of CBD oil under Missouri law. Most of the shops voluntarily stopped selling the product. Upon subsequent investigation, however, four stores were found to still be selling the product in violation of state law.

“The legislature created a process to allow epilepsy patients to purchase CBD oil from licensed nonprofit entities,” Koster said. “My office will ensure consumers have access to this treatment without being misled into buying illegal or fraudulent substances.”