Many Fort Myers hemp retailers said they were ready for new regulations taking effect June 16.
Ghan Ilias, owner of G's Smoke and More in North Fort Myers, said he follows the changing regulations to keep his customers and his business safe.
“As a business owner, that is one thing that I am very, very strict on," Ilias said.
He said he plays it safe as he saw the new product regulations on the horizon.
“I was kind of seeing that direction kind of going there, but it doesn't really affect me," Ilias said. "We know as long as you're in compliance and follow the rules, you're okay."
The new rules include packaging and labeling requirements to keep the products away from kids.
One of the major changes: all of the packaging has to be childproof.
Along with that, the packaging cannot show cartoons or images that are appealing to children.
“If it's too graphic or too animated, I stay away because I just feel like that's going to bring in some unnecessary traffic into the store that we don't need," Ilias said.
The products must also have a QR code showing lab information and proof that the product doesn't contain any illegal drugs.
That’s something Dru Hanni said the team at Wake and Bakery in Downtown Fort Myers has done from the start.
“I have children myself, so I mean, I think it's a great idea," Hanni said. "I wouldn't want my kids getting into something like this. Even my 17-year-old kids, I wouldn't want anybody getting into it. No different than cigarettes or alcohol.”
That’s what Ilias said it goes back to as well.
“Implementing this and just kind of making us retailers really stand on our ground and stick to it, it's a beautiful thing," Ilias said. "We're here for the community. We're here to let our children know that this is not the direction we want you to go to."
Hemp sold at stores like G's is not the same as marijuana.
Hemp comes from the same plant as marijuana, but contains less than 0.3% THC.
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