We sell THC beverages. We think Missouri should regulate them more | Opinion
Despite strong engagement from stakeholders, efforts to pass further regulations on hemp-derived cannabinoid products in Missouri failed in 2025.
As the owner of Climbing Kites, a manufacturer and supplier of hemp-derived consumable beverages, you might assume I am pleased that we face no new regulatory or financial burdens in Missouri in 2025. However, I urge consumers, retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, legislators and others to come together and pass sensible legislation to regulate hemp products so that safe products are promoted, unsafe products are prohibited and Missourians are protected.
I believe in safe, legal and responsible access to hemp-derived products. That’s why my company Climbing Kites, which produces cannabis-infused drinks, has self-regulated beyond what is currently required by the law. As the only THC beverage brand in the country to earn the U.S. Hemp Authority Adult Use Certification, we know that putting consumer safety first is the only way to build trust in a rapidly expanding marketplace.
Cannabis-infused beverages like ours are fundamentally different from marijuana, high-potency cannabis extracts or unregulated intoxicating hemp products that have emerged in recent years. While they all contain same cannabis plants and the same derivative cannabinoids from those plants, our beverages are:
- relatively low dose (ranging from 2.5 milligrams to 10 milligrams, whereas products from dispensaries often contain 100-plus milligrams per can).
- carefully dosed, lab-tested and designed for adult social use.
- legal under federal law.
Yet, additional safety guardrails are still needed.
In 2025, the Missouri’ General Assembly debated two companion pieces of legislation — Senate Bill 54 and House Bill 593 — that would have provided several important regulatory guidelines. Named the Intoxicating Cannabinoid Control Act, the bills’ primary effects would have been to limit dosages on hemp-derived consumable products, place them under the regulation of Missouri’s Alcohol and Tobacco Control framework (similar to beer and nicotine), and increase requirements on labeling, testing and transparency to promote public safety.
At Climbing Kites, we’ve been preparing for this level of regulation from inception. Our commitment to transparency, safety, and traceability from seed to can is core to our identity. We are proud to set the standard in our industry and believe that strong, clear regulations — like those proposed in the Intoxicating Cannabinoid Control Act — help ensure that only responsible, compliant products reach consumers.
There is still work to be done. Though these bills did not make it through in 2025, we urge policymakers to continue listening to public health experts, industry leaders and — most important — the consumers who deserve access to safe, reliable products in trusted retail environments.
Missouri has the opportunity to become a model for other states by regulating hemp-derived beverages thoughtfully, not reactively. We’re proud to support that vision and to be part of a future where cannabis beverages are treated with the seriousness and care they warrant.
Hemp-derived beverages are more popular than ever (industry experts predict hemp-derived beverages could grow from a $2 billion industry in 2024 to as much as $130 billion by 2030). As our industry grows, we need more regulatory oversight. Responsible suppliers recognize that, and we are willing to work together to ensure all Missourians are protected.
Let’s come to the table and get it done. We can get this right — together.