After Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway this week issued legal warnings to several smoke shops accused of selling intoxicating cannabis and marijuana products, one retailer is pushing back.
MNG Missouri Holdings, which does business at CBD Kratom, said it "respectfully disagrees with these allegations and believes they are based on a fundamental misunderstanding of federally lawful hemp-derived products and how they are regulated and marketed."
CBD Kratom, a multi-state retailer operating more than 50 U.S. locations, said that, consistent with federal law under the 2018 Farm Bill and Missouri state law, it does not sell products containing more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis.
It also said that Hanaway's letter does not identify any specific product or testing data supporting the claim while strongly disputing the allegation that it represents itself as a marijuana dispensary.
"We share the Attorney General's goal of protecting consumers and ensuring a responsible marketplace," said Craig Katz, government relations and compliance manager at CBD Kratom. "However, it is important that enforcement actions are grounded in accurate information and applied appropriately. We remain committed to compliance, transparency, and constructive engagement."
