When hemp products were inspected by Florida retailers and producers, thousands of items were removed from the market.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, or FDACS, warned hemp food businesses in Florida in April and again in June of its plans to enforce amendments in the rules that regulate hemp and hemp products intended for human consumption.
The rule was updated to include the following: the prohibition of specific color additives; enhanced labeling requirements; restrictions on advertising and marketing, as well as mandatory packaging that is child-resistant.
The FDACS took action in the first week after launching “Operation Safe Summer”, a campaign that began in late June. Nearly 11,000 hemp-based products were removed from the shelves due to violations of standards relating to child protection, including packaging, marketing, and labeling.
Agriculture commissioner comments on the Operation Wilton Simpson said:
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBP) has stated that it will continue to work to improve the state’s business environment. It is committed to holding those who violate laws accountable.
It’s not the first time the state has taken similar action. FDACS claims to have identified 726,000 packages of products containing hemp that were targeted at children. In July and August of 2023, 700 Florida businesses swept all counties to find more than 83,000 hemp-extract packages that might appeal to kids.
FDACS will not stop taking action until vendors and manufacturers get the message.
“We’ve drawn a line in Florida to protect our children against dangerous, deceptive and hemp-based products,” Commissioner Simpson said.
Other cannabis news from the state includes Governor Ron DeSantis signing SB 2514, which suspends the registration of medical marijuana patients and caregivers who are convicted of drug trafficking, including the manufacture or sale of controlled substances, as well as possession of a controlled product with the intent to sell.
The new rule is not known to affect how many Floridians are registered under the medical cannabis program of Florida. Affected individuals can apply again once their sentence is completed.
The campaign for a state ballot initiative to legalize marijuana in 2026 has been moving forward, and it now contains close to 70% percent of required signatures. The petition Smart And Safe Florida is organizing the event.
The question of whether recreational marijuana could be legalised in Florida appeared on the ballot for last year. Although it was approved by a supermajority (60%) and a majority vote, it was not enough.