Hemp being grown indoors for flower to produce CBD oil. (Florida A&M University hemp pilot project report to Florida Senate Agriculture Committee)
During the past two legislative sessions, Florida lawmakers have attempted to impose significant restrictions on hemp products that industry officials said would have been devastating to their bottom line. Although a measure did pass last spring, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed it in June.
Now a 2025 version of the legislation has been filed, this time by Duval County Democratic Sen. Tracie Davis (SB 1030). Her measure calls for a number of provisions to restrict the hemp industry, including:
- Putting limitations on Delta-9 THC levels in hemp products, restricting them to 2 milligrams per serving and 20 milligrams per container.
- A ban on Delta 8 products.
- A ban on hemp extract products from being sold in a form for smoking — with a third violation resulting in the revocation of the violator’s license, permit, authorization, certificate, or registration.
- A ban on the sale of hemp products in gas stations.
- A ban on locating hemp stores within 500 feet of a school or daycare facility.
- A ban on advertising the availability of hemp products that is visible to members of the public from any street, sidewalk, park, or other public place.
- Event organizers could not promote, advertise, or facilitate an event where hemp products are not from an approved source.
- Hemp locations would be to be subject to random, unannounced inspections by law enforcement.
- Would prohibit businesses from possessing hemp products that are attractive to children.
South Florida Republican Hilary Cassel has filed a measure regulating hemp products (HB 601) in the Florida House.
After members of the hemp industry applauded DeSantis for vetoing last year’s bill, a number of them later helped fund efforts to prevent the proposed constitutional amendment legalizing the recreational use of cannabis on last November’s ballot.