If you want to buy hemp products on the Gulf Coast, you’ll now be paying a bit more in tax starting July 1.
Starting June 16, your products will look a bit different.
The Florida Department of Agriculture will start to enforce packaging and labeling requirements passed in March of this year.
The products must now have child-resistant packaging, contain no cartoons or images appealing to children, show serving sizes in household measurements, and have a scannable QR code with the product’s testing information.
The required info, also called the certificate of analysis, has also changed.
It must include all lab information, total Delta-9 THC concentration and show confirmation if prohibited substances are not present.
Some in downtown Fort Myers said they have mixed feelings about the changes in regulation.
“It's important that the state be able to collect taxes and generate revenue from the products that they sell and I'm really grateful that Florida residents and the Florida governor has made this available to residents and adults who want to purchase it," said Andrew Banyai. "I don't really think that restrictions on what grown adults can purchase are really favorable.”
It’s important to remember that hemp is not the same as marijuana.
Both come from the cannabis sativa plant, but hemp has 3% or less THC.
Employees at three smoke shops off camera told Gulf Coast News they are ready for the changes.
Some were not aware of the new rules.
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