Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed a lawsuit against a local business accused of selling illegal THC products that she alleges are deceptively marketed toward minors, taking aggressive legal action aimed at protecting children from potentially dangerous substances and combating unregulated drug sales.
The lawsuit, filed in St. Loiuis Circuit Court under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, names Pressure STL as a defendant and alleges the business to be selling unregulated tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products without a license.
According to the court document, the business is accused of offering products with intoxicating cannabinoids packaged to resemble popular candies, snacks and treats, along with other items that appear innocuous and non-intoxicating.
In the petition, Hanaway asserts that Pressure STL is operating outside of the legal framework established by both the Missouri Constitution and state law.
Those laws require safety testing, regulatory oversight and age-verification protocols for products containing psychoactive substances, including THC.
“Emboldened by willful ignorance, the hemp industry manufactures and distributes goods to target Missouri’s children and adolescents that contain intoxicating, addictive and harmful substances,” the complaint states. “The hemp industry appears to be taking a page out of the tobacco industry’s play book, but, this time, taking it one step further. In addition to providing a variety of flavored cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and vapes that are enticing to children, hemp manufacturers and distributors provide edibles which take the form of any kid’s favorite snacks — Doritos, Skittles, MilkyWay, Nerds, Chips Ahoy, Crunch and Sour Patch Kids.”
The suit alleges that Pressure STL’s products not only exceed potency thresholds set by the 2018 Farm Bill but also may contain harmful contaminants, solvents or unknown byproducts and are being marketed in a manner that blurs the line between regulated cannabis products and everyday snacks appealing to children.
“To protect children from the devastating harms of dangerous, psychoactive drugs, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed suit against Pressure STL, a business selling unregulated THC products without a license, including items deceptively marketed as non-intoxicating, well-known candy and snack brands enjoyed by children,” the release states.
“We will not stand idly by as adolescents are indoctrinated into addiction by unlicensed businesses prioritizing profit over consumers,” Hanaway said. “My Office will not tolerate drug dealers hiding behind candy wrappers.”
The legal action seeks injunctive relief to stop Pressure STL from selling the products in question and civil penalties for violations of state consumer protection laws.
The lawsuit notes broader concerns about how certain THC and hemp-derived products are marketed and sold, particularly when they resemble age-appropriate treats and lack the regulatory safeguards that apply to licensed marijuana dispensaries.
Under Missouri law, licensed dispensaries must adhere to stringent testing, packaging and age-verification requirements to prevent underage access, but the suit alleges that unlicensed sellers are exploiting loopholes in the market to bypass such protections.
Hanaway’s office has focused on consumer protections and enforcement actions related to unregulated or illicit products, particularly those that pose risks to children and families.
