The department’s stance comes as the number of stores dedicated to the sale of CBD has surged across the state, including more than 20 retailers opening in the St. Louis area in the last three years.

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is an active compound in cannabis. CBD can’t get you high, but it’s become popular for its purported health benefits in treating anxiety and pain.

In 2018, state lawmakers exempted industrial hemp containing less than 0.3% of the psychoactive ingredient THC from the definition of marijuana and the state list of controlled substances. But it’s not clear whether that applies to CBD, which can be derived from either hemp or marijuana.

In July, Carl Rowley, a lawyer specializing in cannabis law at the Thompson Coburn law firm in St. Louis, told the Post-Dispatch he believes the state law clearly legalized CBD derived from hemp grown in compliance with state law in Missouri.

But, Rowley said there are still risks for sellers.