Proposed Legislation and Industry Response
In March, Florida lawmakers passed SB 1698, aimed at addressing safety concerns surrounding the use of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which has a booming market in the Sunshine State. SB 1698 would have effectively banned the sale of products containing delta-8 THC, a psychoactive cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant, and limited the amount of delta-9 THC.
DeSantis acknowledged the bill’s commendable goals in his veto message but argued that the legislation “would impose debilitating regulatory burdens on small businesses and almost certainly fail to achieve its purposes.”
Industry Lobbying and Legislative Process
The Florida Healthy Alternatives Association (FHAA) strongly opposed SB 1698, contending that the legislation would significantly impact the industry, costing the state thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in lost revenue. The association represents hemp farmers and businesses that sell and manufacture hemp-based products.
Florida’s hemp industry has grown substantially in the five years since legislation was passed legalizing hemp cultivation in the state. This growth prompted the FHAA to enlist some of the state’s top lobbyists to block the measure. Despite their efforts, the bill passed the Senate unanimously and the House with a 64-48 vote in the final days of this year’s session.
DeSantis called for lawmakers to reconsider the issue during the 2025 legislative session, emphasizing the need to create a comprehensive regulatory framework for the manufacture and sale of hemp and hemp-derived products. He provided a roadmap for a revised bill, advising lawmakers to focus on quality control, retail sales, labeling, marketing, and packaging. The governor suggested that future legislation should “include random, unannounced inspections, standardized and repeated testing, and dosing packaging, and unit purchase caps that better correspond to the character of the products and their intoxicating capabilities.”
Despite DeSantis’ veto, he remains skeptical about further expanding the marijuana market. He has expressed criticism of bills that would allow the state’s currently licensed medical marijuana firms to begin selling recreational pot and the establishment of more dispensaries.
