Senate Panel in Florida Starts Discussing Bill Restricting Hemp Products
A proposal introduced by Sen. Colleen Burton that would ban delta-8 THC hemp products is being discussed by legislators in Florida. The measure, SB 438, would also restrict levels of delta-9 THC in hemp products to 50mg per package and 5mg per serving.
This is in addition to limiting the amount of THC per can or bottle to no more than 5mg for hemp-infused beverages and prohibiting the sale of these drinks at premises not licensed to sell alcoholic drinks.
While introducing the measure to the Senate Agriculture Committee earlier this week, Burton explained that additional regulations would help ensure that products being sold had undergone testing to ascertain that they were safe for consumption.
The proposal has received support from various players in the liquor industry, many of whom argue that hemp-infused beverages need to be regulated like alcohol, explaining that this will ensure the products are safe for consumption.
The reaction from many small hemp businesses differs though, with many agreeing that the provision will greatly affect their businesses.
Herban Flow’s co-owner, Caitlyn Smith, argues that requiring them to obtain a liquor license and be regulated as a liquor store despite them not being one conflicts with the business itself. Herban Flow is the first non-alcoholic bottle business in the state.
The measure would also make it mandatory for hemp and hemp extract products to be tested at certified medical marijuana testing labs, instead of an independent lab. This comes after testimonies showed that various products tested contained contaminants and had THC concentrations higher than the legal limit.
The tests, as stipulated in the measure, would ascertain whether products were free from contaminants, accurately labelled, and met the legal definition of hemp. Federally, hemp is defined as cannabis plant matter with less than 0.3% delta-9 THC concentration on a dry weight basis.
With regard to advertising, the proposal will bar food establishments and businesses allowed to sell hemp products from advertising in a way visible to the public from public places like parks, sidewalks or streets.
This is the 3rd year in a row Senator Burton is spearheading efforts to regulate hemp products, which have proliferated markets around the country since the crop was legalized with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill.
Last year, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a similar proposal that had been approved by legislators, explaining that heavy regulatory burdens would’ve been imposed on small businesses. Following approval by the Agriculture Committee earlier this week, the measure has now been advanced to the Senate floor. Hemp companies like Software Effective Solutions Corp. (d/b/a MedCana) (OTC: SFWJ) operating around the country will be watching the push to regulate hemp products in Florida to see how their plans could be impacted.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Software Effective Solutions Corp. (d/b/a MedCana) (OTC: SFWJ) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/SFWJ
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the HempWire website applicable to all content provided by HW, wherever published or re-published: https://www.HempWire.com/Disclaimer
A proposal introduced by Sen. Colleen Burton that would ban delta-8 THC hemp products is being discussed by legislators in Florida. The measure, SB 438, would also restrict levels of delta-9 THC in hemp products to 50mg per package and 5mg per serving.
This is in addition to limiting the amount of THC per can or bottle to no more than 5mg for hemp-infused beverages and prohibiting the sale of these drinks at premises not licensed to sell alcoholic drinks.
While introducing the measure to the Senate Agriculture Committee earlier this week, Burton explained that additional regulations would help ensure that products being sold had undergone testing to ascertain that they were safe for consumption.
The proposal has received support from various players in the liquor industry, many of whom argue that hemp-infused beverages need to be regulated like alcohol, explaining that this will ensure the products are safe for consumption.
The reaction from many small hemp businesses differs though, with many agreeing that the provision will greatly affect their businesses.
Herban Flow’s co-owner, Caitlyn Smith, argues that requiring them to obtain a liquor license and be regulated as a liquor store despite them not being one conflicts with the business itself. Herban Flow is the first non-alcoholic bottle business in the state.
The measure would also make it mandatory for hemp and hemp extract products to be tested at certified medical marijuana testing labs, instead of an independent lab. This comes after testimonies showed that various products tested contained contaminants and had THC concentrations higher than the legal limit.
The tests, as stipulated in the measure, would ascertain whether products were free from contaminants, accurately labelled, and met the legal definition of hemp. Federally, hemp is defined as cannabis plant matter with less than 0.3% delta-9 THC concentration on a dry weight basis.
With regard to advertising, the proposal will bar food establishments and businesses allowed to sell hemp products from advertising in a way visible to the public from public places like parks, sidewalks or streets.
This is the 3rd year in a row Senator Burton is spearheading efforts to regulate hemp products, which have proliferated markets around the country since the crop was legalized with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill.
Last year, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a similar proposal that had been approved by legislators, explaining that heavy regulatory burdens would’ve been imposed on small businesses. Following approval by the Agriculture Committee earlier this week, the measure has now been advanced to the Senate floor. Hemp companies like Software Effective Solutions Corp. (d/b/a MedCana) (OTC: SFWJ) operating around the country will be watching the push to regulate hemp products in Florida to see how their plans could be impacted.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Software Effective Solutions Corp. (d/b/a MedCana) (OTC: SFWJ) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/SFWJ
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the HempWire website applicable to all content provided by HW, wherever published or re-published: https://www.HempWire.com/Disclaimer
