WASHINGTON, Mo. – The commander for a VFW Post in Washington, Missouri, says the state “raided” their post, searching for unregulated hemp-infused products.
Missouri officials say the “raid” label is misleading, though tell FOX 2 that some workers arrived to the Post on Wednesday following an anonymous complaint.
In August, Missouri filed an executive order to ban several unregulated hemp-infused products, including delta-8 THC and similar compounds. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft rejected emergency rules to enforce the order, though the state has since formed a task force on the issue and has reviewed complaints over unregulated products.
Jason Stanfield, commander of VFW Post 2661, says he was caught by surprise when two state inspectors arrived since the Post does not sell products targeted through the executive order. On Facebook, the Post noted that an adult beverage in compliance with state statutes was questioned.
“We’re not breaking any laws or anything. We are just providing our members with an alternative to alcohol,” said Stanfield in an interview Friday with FOX 2.
Lisa Cox, communications director for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, tells FOX 2 that two DHSS inspectors visited the Post on Wednesday and that “the visit was solely based on an anonymous complaint DHSS received on Sept. 5 regarding this establishment’s available products.”
Cox says the two inspectors were “let inside upon request” and did not find any cause for concern. She says the two left without any products embargoed or destroyed.
Stanfield says the state found two delta-9 THC beverages, neither in violation of the executive order.
“They said they needed to enforce the governor’s embargo on hemp-derived THC drinks that were listed on this embargo. They said they were adulterated,” said Stanfield.
The Post has kept the beverages in stock since July, when members voted to sell it.
“We’ve got vets who are on a lot of medications that interact with alcohol. We are more than a bar. We offer these drinks for people who are more cannabis consumers,” said Annie Stanfield, Junior Vice Commander of VFW 2661.
Jason Stanfield says he was confused with the response of Missouri DHSS and also frustrated with the timing.
“We’re all over 21 that are in here,” said Stanfield. “We know that the embargo was set to protect children, according to the governor. There’s not a whole lot of children that are VFW members.”
Stanfield says the inspectors arrived after he lowered a flag half-staffed in remembrance of service members and civilians who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, commemorating the 23rd anniversary of the date.
The VFW’s Facebook post added, “We are not sure that raiding a Veterans of Foreign Wars Post on September 11th immediately after lowering our flag to half-staff in remembrance … was the best or most respectful time to do it.”
Meanwhile, Cox says Missouri DHSS has received more than 100 complaints or tips since Gov. Mike Parson announced the executive order of unregulated hemp products on Aug. 1 and says enforcement work around the VFW complaint had occurred nearly two weeks prior to the state’s new task force.
