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In a move signaling a potential shift in Florida’s hemp industry, a combined House workgroup wrapped up its final meeting last Thursday with a consensus: while lawmakers want to avoid stifling a multi-billion-dollar industry, they acknowledge that more regulations are necessary to ensure consumer safety.
The 24-member panel, led by Escambia County Republican Rep. Michelle Salzman, was not tasked with making legislative recommendations. Instead, its mission was to assess the landscape of hemp regulation in Florida. What they found raised significant concerns about the potency and safety of hemp-derived products currently on the market.
“I’m not a huge regulation guy, but I think it’s an area where we need more regulation,” said Rep. Toby Oberdorf, a Republican from the state’s Southeast region. He pointed to the fact that some hemp-derived products contain THC levels exceeding those found in state-regulated medical marijuana, raising alarm over accessibility and oversight.
One of the more surprising revelations came from George Fernandez, CEO of Modern Canna Labs, a state-contracted testing facility. According to Fernandez, his lab recently found that 64% of hemp samples tested exceeded the federally mandated 0.3% THC limit. Even more concerning, nearly half of the tested samples contained pesticides, microbials, or heavy metals, posing potential health risks to consumers.
“I’m in shock right now,” said Salzman in response to the findings.
Another key issue highlighted in the discussions was the growing availability of hemp-derived THC-infused beverages, which have begun appearing in retail outlets like ABC Fine Wine & Spirits. These drinks, while non-alcoholic, have intoxicating effects and come in varying potencies—some containing as much as 100 milligrams of THC per serving.
Lawmakers have attempted to rein in the industry before, most notably with SB 1698 in 2024, which sought to ban delta-8 THC products and cap THC levels in hemp-based items. Governor Ron DeSantis ultimately vetoed the bill but encouraged the Legislature to revisit the issue in the 2025 session.
With new proposals already on the table for 2025, including SB 438 and a competing measure from Sen. Tracie Davis, Florida lawmakers appear poised for another heated debate on how to balance economic opportunity with public safety in the hemp industry.
Read the whole article from MarijuanaMoment here.
