Missouri

Missouri VFW inspected by state regulators as part of ban on intoxicating hemp products • Missouri Independent

Published

1 year ago

September 13, 2024

Missouri VFW inspected by state regulators as part of ban on intoxicating hemp products • Missouri Independent

Not long after Commander Jason Stanfield had lowered the flag Tuesday to honor the lives lost on Sept. 11 at his Franklin County VFW Post, he learned state food inspectors had arrived.

“It’s not an easy day,” Stanfield said. “9/11 is a tough day for all of us, particularly for veterans. I was not in the best mindset.”

The regulators said they had received a complaint that the post’s bar had been selling seltzers that contain hemp-derived THC — which has the same intoxicating effect as THC from marijuana that’s sold at dispensaries.

The bar was selling a brand of fruity seltzers called UR Lit, which contains 5mg of Delta-9 THC.

While hemp is federally legal, Missouri recently joined a growing number of states trying to ban all intoxicating hemp products.

When Gov. Mike Parson signed his executive order on Aug. 1 to ban the products, he said his primary focus was to protect children consuming the products that resemble popular candy, like Lifesavers, or fruity drinks.

Gov. Mike Parson speaks at his Capitol press conference announcing Executive Order 24-10 that bans the sale of intoxicating hemp products in Missouri “until such time approved sources can be regulated by the FDA or State of Missouri through legislative action,” he said (photo courtesy of Missouri Governor’s Office).

Given the governor’s goal, Stanfield said he was surprised the state wanted to inspect the post, where members are well over 21.

“There’s not a whole lot of kids that run around the VFW,” he said.

Since the ban went into effect on Sept. 1, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services officials have inspected 74 establishments and found intoxicating products at 42 of them, said Lisa Cox, spokeswoman for the department.

On a social media post on Wednesday, Stanfield described the inspection as a “raid,” but Cox said that description is “misleading” because there were just two inspectors responding to a complaint.

“The two inspectors were let inside through a locked door upon request,” Cox said, “but quickly recognized that the VFW Post did not pose an immediate cause for concern, specifically in regard to Missouri children. As a result, zero product was embargoed or destroyed.”

Cox said the department has “no plans in place of returning to the establishment.”

Hemp and marijuana are essentially terms the government uses to distinguish between the part of the cannabis plant that can get you high when smoked – that’s marijuana – and the part that can’t — that’s hemp.

But with a little science and extraction, people can enhance the small amount of the naturally occurring THC, or the psychoactive component, in hemp to make edibles and drinks.

Because hemp isn’t a controlled substance like marijuana, there’s no state or federal law saying teenagers or children can’t buy products, such as delta-8 drinks, or that stores can’t sell them to minors, Parson said.

And there’s no requirement to list potential effects on the label or test how much THC is actually in them. State lawmakers have failed to pass such requirements the last two years.

Stanfield said the state ban is harmful for VFW members who are trying to recover from alcoholism or opioid addiction.

“I have testimony after testimony in my post alone of people that are still alive today,” Stanfield said, “because they use cannabis to get off of their opioids that they were addicted to.”

During the inspection, he said the DHSS employees told him that the drinks were considered “adulterated.” If a product is considered adulterated, DHSS has the authority to embargo it – which means put a tag on it until the department gets a court order to destroy it.

Stanfield points to the state law that says, “a food shall not be considered adulterated solely for containing industrial hemp, or an industrial hemp commodity or product.”

That line was added to Missouri’s law in 2018, after Congress legalized hemp as part of the federal Farm Bill. It was part of a Missouri House bill that brought the state’s definition of hemp in alignment with the federal government’s.

It is the same law fueling the Missouri Hemp Trade Association’s lawsuit against the governor’s ban.

“I will continue to comply with federal law and sell these products until they’re not legal,” Stanfield said, “to give my veterans a non-alcoholic option in a place where they can come and be with other veterans and not have to consume alcohol.”

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Missouri

Two-day trial reveals inner workings of Missouri private school voucher program

Published

8 hours ago

November 26, 2025

Press Room

Two-day trial reveals inner workings of Missouri private school voucher program

More than 98% of scholarships administered by the MOScholars program this school year are funded by Missouri taxpayers. And though there are strict eligibility requirements for private-school scholarships, eligibility isn’t checked after the initial scholarship is awarded or for siblings of students who received a scholarship. The revelations about the inner workings of Missouri’s private […]

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Missouri

Missouri sports betting: Everything to know about early sign-up promos and more for 12/1

Published

1 day ago

November 25, 2025

Press Room

Missourians are counting down the days to Dec. 1, and it’s not just because they’re looking forward to putting up Christmas trees and playing Mariah Carey on repeat. Missouri online sports betting will be legal on Dec. 1, just in time for the end of the NFL regular season and the College Football Playoff.

Nine mobile sportsbooks are coming to the Show Me State, and that number could reach as high as 14 after sports betting goes live. Some sportsbooks are offering exclusive offers to Missourians who sign up now rather than waiting until Dec. 1. Below, I break down everything you need to know about Missouri sports betting.

Which Missouri sportsbooks will be taking bets at midnight on December 1?

Missouri residents can take their action to nine sportsbooks when wagering markets open on Dec. 1. I recommend joining a few sites and making minimum deposits with each operator. That way, you can get the welcome offers and see which sportsbooks you prefer.

If you go car shopping, do you buy the first car you test drive? Probably not. The same applies to MO sports betting. Here are the sportsbooks that will soon call Missouri home:

BetMGM
DraftKings
Fanatics Sportsbook
FanDuel
bet365
Caesars Sportsbook
Circa Sports
theScore Bet
Underdog

Missouri sports betting early sign-up promos

Some sportsbooks are offering special promos for customers who open an account before Dec. 1. These deals are likely to be better than what will be available on Dec. 1, so it’s worth your time to check them out.

For now, Missouri bettors can create sportsbook accounts and make deposits. That’s all you need to do to claim the MO sports betting early sign-up promos. If you sign up early, you still have to wait until Dec. 1 to place bets. Here’s what’s available to those who want to get a head start:

NOTE: The offers listed below must be claimed before midnight CT on Dec. 1. Sign up today to ensure you don’t forget to register before the deadline.

FanDuel Missouri promo: Claim $400 in bonuses

No FanDuel Missouri promo code is required to claim my favorite MO early sign-up offer. New customers just need to open an account and deposit $5. When the calendar flips to December, place a $5 bet and you’ll automatically receive $300 in bonuses.

FanDuel Missouri also sends a $100 bonus if you sign up early. No action is required to receive the $100 bonus, except to register a new account before Dec. 1.

DraftKings Missouri promo: Get $300 in bonus bets

A DraftKings Missouri promo code isn’t necessary to get an outstanding welcome offer from one of the best sportsbooks in the industry. Create an account today and deposit $5. Then, bet $5 on Dec. 1 to instantly receive $300 in bonuses.

The DraftKings Missouri promo is nearly identical to the FanDuel offer. The difference is that FanDuel provides an extra $100 bonus just for signing up. However, DraftKings is a top option for bettors across the U.S., so don’t bypass the DraftKings MO promo because it’s less valuable.

BetMGM Missouri bonus code MOLOCAL: Up to $1,600 in bonuses

High rollers will appreciate the perks of the BetMGM Missouri bonus code MOLOCAL. It starts with a $100 bonus if you deposit $10 before Dec. 1.

When Missouri sports betting goes live, submit a wager on any market that catches your eye. If the wager loses, BetMGM returns your stake in bonuses. The most you can receive from this portion of the offer is $1,500 in bonuses.

For instance, let’s say you sign up early and bet $100 on Dec. 1. If the bet loses, BetMGM sends a $100 bonus so you can try again.

Fanatics Sportsbook Missouri promo: Up to $3,000 in FanCash

You don’t need a Fanatics Sportsbook Missouri promo code to redeem the most valuable offer of the bunch. In total, Missouri bettors could earn up to $3,000 in FanCash. This offer is more complicated than the rest, so I’ll break it down step-by-step:

Click the Fanatics link above to download the Fanatics app (Fanatics Sportsbook is only available through the app).
Register a new account.
Deposit $50 or more before Dec. 1.
Open the Fanatics app on Dec. 1 to find 15 no-sweat bets in your account.
When a no-sweat bet is applied to a wager, the stake is returned in FanCash if you lose.
Each no-sweat bet returns up to $200 in FanCash.

FanCash is more valuable than the bonuses offered by FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM. FanCash can be redeemed for bonuses or profit boosts. It can also be used as a credit if you buy gear at Fanatics.com.

How to bet on sports in Missouri on Dec. 1

It doesn’t take long to learn the ins and outs of sports betting. However, it may be overwhelming for first-timers. Here are some important terms to know before diving in:

Bonuses: Also known as bonus bets, bonuses are a credit given out by sportsbooks. They can only be used to place wagers and are not withdrawable for cash. If you bet with a bonus and win, you get a cash payout. If you bet with a bonus and lose, you don’t lose real money. Bonuses are a great tool for new sports bettors trying to learn the ropes.
Moneyline: This is the most straightforward bet type at every sportsbook. It requires you to pick which team wins a game. If your team comes out on top, you win the bet. Easy as that.
Spread: This bet type evens the playing field between two teams. For example, the spread in Colts vs. Chiefs is Chiefs -3. If you bet Kansas City to cover the spread, it must win the game by four points or more. If K.C. loses or wins by two points or less, you lose the bet. If the Chiefs win by exactly three points, bets are voided and customers get the stake back.
Over/under: Also known as the total, the over/under asks you to predict the number of points scored in a game. In Colts vs. Chiefs, the total is 50.5. If you take the over, at least 51 points must be scored for your bet to win. If you bet on the under, you need 50 points or fewer to win the bet.
Player props: The bet types listed above involve the performance of each team in a game, while player props relate to the statistical performance of specific players. You could bet Patrick Mahomes to throw over or under 1.5 touchdowns, or Travis Kelce to catch more or less than five passes.

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Missouri

Bench trial begins on Missouri school voucher lawsuit

Published

2 days ago

November 24, 2025

Press Room

Bench trial begins on Missouri school voucher lawsuit

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Cole County judge heard arguments Monday in the first day of a two-day bench trial over a lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of general revenue funds being used for scholarships to help pay for private K-12 education.

The lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of the Missouri chapter of the National Education Association (NEA), was filed in response to appropriations made in House Bill 12. The spending measure included $51 million allocated to the MO Scholars program.

“Missouri NEA firmly believes that this is an unconstitutional action on behalf of the state and the (Missouri) Treasurer’s Office,” Missouri NEA President Rebeka McIntosh said outside of the courthouse. “Public money belongs in public schools, and this money could be used to fund up to a thousand public school teachers for smaller classes and one-on-one instruction.”

CLICK HERE TO READ ARGUMENTS FROM THE STATE OF MISSOURI

CLICK HERE TO READ ARGUMENTS FROM MISSOURI NEA

Among remedies being sought, the plaintiffs are asking the court to halt any additional funds from being transferred from general revenue to the MO Scholars program.

The bench trial resumes Tuesday, and it’s not clear when Judge Brian Stumpe will make a ruling on the matter. Most judgements in Missouri aren’t bound by a set timeline for when decisions have to be made.

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