Parson says Ashcroft is blocking effort to ban unregulated THC because of hurt feelings

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Thursday accused Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft of thwarting an executive order to ban various forms of the cannabis compound THC over “hurt feelings" because Parson endorsed Ashcroft's GOP rival in the recent gubernatorial primary Ashcroft lost.

Ashcroft did not sign-off on Parson's August emergency executive order banning the sale of unregulated THC substances.

Secretary of state spokesperson JoDonn Chaney said in an email that Ashcroft "had concerns the rule did not meet the legal requirements as defined in statute.”

“He reached out to the executive branch to give them opportunity to explain how it met the requirements and they did not respond,” Chaney said.

Recreational and medical marijuana are both legal in Missouri, but Parson's executive order was aimed at particular THC compounds that aren't regulated, including Delta-8.

Parson pursued the ban on unregulated THC because he said the products have sickened children who mistake the packaging for candy.

“This is a personal matter for thousands of parents and grandparents across the state, and denying the rule-making is your attempt at retribution for my endorsement of another candidate,” Parson said in a letter to Ashcroft. “Safety of kids is not a political issue. I am disgusted that you are making it one.”

Parson pointed to bad blood between him and Ashcroft as the reason Ashcroft is standing in the way of the proposed executive order. Parson endorsed Ashcroft's rival in a heated gubernatorial primary that Ashcroft lost this month.

“As best I can tell, you denied this emergency rule-making because you believe hurt feelings are more important than protecting children,” Parson wrote in a public letter.

Parson is barred by term limits from seeking reelection, which opened the door for a swath of aspiring GOP candidates looking to take his seat as the state's top executive. Because Republicans are heavily favored to win statewide offices in Missouri, GOP primaries can be more influential than general elections.

Ashcroft faced off against other Republicans including Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, who was Parson's pick.

Ashcroft was favored to win, primarily because he comes from a Missouri political dynasty. His father, John Ashcroft, previously served as Missouri governor, a U.S. senator and the U.S. attorney general under former President George W. Bush. Ashcroft has long been known to have ambitions to follow in his father's political footsteps.

But voters ultimately chose Kehoe to be the GOP gubernatorial nominee. That also means Ashcroft will be out a job in January, when his term as secretary of state expires.

Parson directed the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control to resubmit the emergency rule on unregulated THC products and asked Ashcroft to reconsider. Without Ashcroft's approval, Parson must go through a process that can take months.

The emergency rule was originally set to take effect Sept. 1.