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All proper, people, maintain on to your hats as a result of the Sunshine State’s pot plot thickens.
Simply once we thought Florida’s hemp farmers would possibly get a minute to take pleasure in their inexperienced pastures, the Legislature is able to plow them below.
Buckle up; this isn’t your grandma’s reefer insanity.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Florida has entered its hashish period — whether or not state-regulated, medical, or leisure. A statewide initiative to get leisure marijuana on the November poll is so standard that it appears virtually inevitable to be on the November poll and acquire voter approval.
Not surprisingly, this has spurred a preemptive push for tighter guardrails, and never simply on leisure marijuana. One other cannabis-related battle, one which appears born of worry and misinformation, resides within the shadow of our woman Mary Jane and shifting by means of the Senate at breakneck pace.
SB 1698, being pushed by Sen. Colleen Burton, and HB 1613, sponsored by Rep. Tommy Gregory, are each shifting. Burton’s invoice obtained solely two committee references, which everyone knows is a certain signal that this factor is getting fast-tracked to the Senate flooring. So why is nobody asking: What’s the frenzy?
After present process a critical glow-up final yr with unanimous bipartisan help, Florida’s hemp trade could also be hit with a brand new spherical of considerably harsher and much much less standard rules. It’s onerous to know why some lawmakers are so desirous to dismantle reforms negotiated amongst members, the trade, and different stakeholders to supply a legislation everybody might get behind — one thing more and more uncommon in Florida’s political panorama.
Certain, SB 1698 and HB 1613 are flying below the noble banner of defending youngsters. However they’re additionally a Computer virus full of overt-the-top restrictions on THC — language that lawmakers faraway from the invoice final yr, for superb purpose. This raises the query, is that this whiplash self-induced or is another person driving the prepare?
It appears these extreme rules are designed to make it exceptionally troublesome for the hemp trade to proceed because it exists immediately — an trade that made good-faith adjustments to adjust to final yr’s rules. I discover it curious that some legislators appear hellbent on making these hemp merchandise, that are completely authorized below federal legislation, a lot tougher to entry. This would possibly drive people straight into Mary Jane’s arms. Is that this a windfall to prop up the medical marijuana trade earlier than leisure weed is legalized and shakes up the sport?
Let’s not overlook that hemp is the cousin who doesn’t trigger bother at household reunions — it’s low on THC and received’t get you hovering. Regulated by the Florida Division of Agriculture and Shopper Providers, it offers a number of doable wellness advantages.
Final yr’s legislation did the wise factor, elevating the age restrict to buy hemp merchandise to 21, growing packaging and labeling necessities, and cracking down on the vile entrepreneurs who designed hemp merchandise and labels to attraction to kids. Armed with this legislation, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson led the extremely profitable “Operation Kandy Krush,” which bought almost 70,000 merchandise that appeared to focus on kids off the cabinets. Everybody loves a victory lap they will get behind.
Within the wake of all this success, what’s driving this yr’s push for much more adjustments? What am I lacking?
To not point out, the legal guidelines enacted final yr are nonetheless within the rule-making course of. Which means earlier than the foundations are even in place, sure elected officers try to alter the legal guidelines once more, spreading confusion and issues in an trade that made substantial adjustments final yr. Since we all know the legal guidelines are working, are these new payments a approach of coping with points in rule-making?
Or is that this an indication of interference by some “larger” energy?” Throughout testimony on the laws, a number of hemp trade members have advised as a lot. With leisure marijuana on the horizon, almost certainly undercutting the medical marijuana market, is that this a transfer to nook the hashish market earlier than the leisure stuff might be permitted?
When did legislative leaders undertake governmental overreach as their go-to technique?
Overreach was a nasty phrase amongst conservatives, who railed towards the federal government selecting winners and losers. However evidently one thing is motivating members to smoke out the hemp trade. Whether or not it’s marketing campaign cash, one other participant within the hashish world, or one thing else, we are able to most likely guess their motivation is inexperienced.
In any case, the place there’s smoke …
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