Governor Ron DeSantis has vetoed legislation that would have banned hemp compounds such as Delta-8 THC.
Delta-8 THC gummies (photo credit: FloraCBD).
Governor DeSantis vetoed Senate Bill 1698 today, following sources last week that reported he would. The proposed law would have limited the sale of hemp products containing Delta-9 THC while placing a complete ban on the production and sale of products containing Delta-8 and Delta-10 THC. Those in the hemp industry argued that if the bill passed, it would have devastated the industry and lead to thousands of job losses.
Florida’s Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 1698 in a unanimous 39 to 0 vote, meaning they have well more than the two-thirds required to override a governor’s veto. However, the measure’s passage was much closer in the House of Representatives, with the final vote being 64 to 48. This means that it’s unlikely the legislature will override Governor DeSantis’ veto.
Delta-8 THC is derived from hemp, which was legalized nationwide in 2018. The compound interacts with the body in a way similar to marijuana-derived Delta-9 THC, despite the latter being illegal for recreational use in Florida. This has led some lawmakers to consider it a loophole, allowing consumers to legally get a marijuana-like high.
The bill would have also modified the definition of “attractive to children” to include containers displaying toys, novel shapes, animations, promotional characters, licensed characters, or other features that specifically target children. It would also prohibit other cannabinoids such as THCV and THCP from being infused into hemp extracts, and it would place a cap on delta-9 THC products to 5 milligrams per serving or 50 milligrams per package.
