Florida lawmakers are cracking down on the use of hemp, although the hemp industry was legalized in the state back in 2019 and has been regulated ever since then.
Everything from hemp granola bars to hemp brownies is legal, but many state lawmakers say that hemp is out of control, despite the fact that it's used for well-being, stomach and intestine issues.
Elise Kingman calls a bill to place more restrictions on hemp a frivolous mission.
“I think hemp specifically can be beneficial to a lot of people,” Kingman said.
The hemp industry generates $10 billion in revenue for Florida's economy.
Cole Peacock is a partner of the Caloosahatchee Cannabis Company, which includes restaurants, hemp beers and THC seltzers.
“We're in the overall cannabis industry,” Peacock said.
He’s paying close attention to Senate Bill 438, which calls for the changes.
“The majority of the Florida-based companies that are selling hemp and in the hemp industry from day one have followed the federal farm bill that the state of Florida adopted,” Peacock said.
He believes the state's problem is outside of its borders. He said the state is not monitoring and controlling what is happening by out-of-state companies selling their products in the Florida market.
The bill bans all Delta 8 and limits Delta 9, both psycho active compounds. It also limits the amount of THC in hemp-infused drinks.
Dr. Heather Auld works in integrative medicine and said that pure hemp by itself is not a problem.
Auld, who prescribes medical marijuana, explains that alter hemp is the real problem.
“I think the fear is the conversion of hemp products into Delta 8 by chemicals until it doesn't even resemble hemp any longer,” Auld said.
The bill gives state police $2 million to buy hemp detectors to use during traffic stops to determine if someone has been using hemp.
“I think money on efforts could be spent elsewhere or bigger problems,” Kingman said.
Lawmakers passed a similar hemp bill last year, but Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed it.