Governor DeSantis Throw Lifeline to Hemp Industry in Florida

Governor DeSantis saved the hemp industry in Florida late Friday afternoon by vetoing SB 1698. Similar to tactics we have seen on the Hill and in statehouses around the country, supporters of SB 1698 argued the bill was necessary in order to protect children. In reality, it was designed by market competitors to dismantle the local hemp economy as it exists today.

Thanks in large part to the Florida Healthy Alternatives Association, Governor DeSantis didn’t buy it. In his veto letter, Governor DeSantis points out that, “While SB 1698’s goals are commendable, the bill would, in fact, impose debilitating regulatory burdens on small businesses and almost certainly fail to achieve its purposes.”

Governor DeSantis’ veto letter highlights the fact he signed a bill into law just last year that struck a balance between increasing consumer safety standards in the hemp marketplace without eliminating jobs, choice for consumers or taking away end use markets for Florida farmers. SB 1676 prohibited the sale of hemp products to anyone under 21 years of age, prohibited the sale and distribution of hemp products attractive to children and required hemp manufacturing facilities to meet food and safety standards among other provisions. These are the types of approaches the hemp industry around the country support and the one we have been asking the Indiana General Assembly to take for years.

Instead of signing SB 1698 into law, Governor DeSantis called on the Florida General Assembly to bring stakeholders together to further raise the industry bar for quality control standards and consumer protections. Perhaps just as important, Governor DeSantis encourages the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to “…continue using its full., existing authority to root out products that violate Florida law.” Laws and regulations are worthless when they are not backed with consistent enforcement.

We applaud Governor DeSantis and the entire hemp industry in Florida for taking action to ensure consumers have access to safe products that are improving the lives of millions around the country.