Missouri Governor Mike Parson has publicly accused Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft of obstructing an executive order aimed at banning certain forms of the cannabis compound THC, alleging that personal animosity stemming from Parson’s endorsement of Ashcroft’s GOP rival in a recent gubernatorial primary is at the root of the issue. The emergency executive order issued by Parson in August sought to prohibit the sale of unregulated THC substances, including Delta-8.
Ashcroft did not approve Parson’s executive order, expressing concerns that the rule did not align with legal requirements outlined in statute. A spokesperson for the secretary of state, JoDonn Chaney, mentioned that Ashcroft had reached out to the executive branch for clarification on how the rule met legal standards but did not receive a response.
Parson’s motivation for the ban stems from incidents where children have fallen ill after mistakenly consuming THC products, which are sometimes packaged to resemble candy. In a letter to Ashcroft, Parson emphasized that child safety should not be a partisan issue and criticized Ashcroft for what he perceives as retaliation for not endorsing him during the gubernatorial primary.
The strained relationship between Parson and Ashcroft dates back to the primary election, where Parson endorsed Ashcroft’s rival, who ultimately emerged as the GOP gubernatorial nominee. Term limits prevent Parson from seeking re-election, opening the field to various Republican candidates vying for the governorship in a state where Republicans typically dominate statewide races.
Ashcroft, who comes from a prominent Missouri political family with aspirations to follow in his father’s footsteps, faced a surprising defeat in the primary. As a result, he will be out of a job when his term as secretary of state ends in January. Parson has instructed the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control to resubmit the emergency rule concerning unregulated THC products and has urged Ashcroft to reconsider his stance, as the approval process without Ashcroft’s support could be lengthy. The emergency rule, originally slated to go into effect on September 1st, now faces procedural delays.
