“All Caps are O.U.T. Out.”
By Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix
In the last month, hemp entrepreneurs visited the state Capitol in order to protest against a proposal that would regulate products derived from hemp and could harm the hemp industry.
On Monday, however, these same professionals cheered after the sponsor removed all references to limiting THC dosage in hemp-derived products. THC, the compound found in cannabis plants that makes you high, is removed from the latest version of the bill.
Will Robinson Jr., Republican of the Manatee County House, said in a Monday committee meeting: “All caps, out.”
Robinson was replying to a Democratic Anna Eskamani of Orlando who is a member of the committee. Robinson confirmed that his new amendment would remove all references to a cap on the amount of THC found in hemp products.
This means that the potency of products sold in hemp stores will not be affected.
The bill continues to move forward on safety issues. The bill still includes safety provisions to prevent products such as Delta-8 THC from being in the hands of children under 21. These are not controversial provisions and were endorsed by almost everyone who testified at three previous committee meetings in the House and Senate.
Florida Cannabis Action Network President Jodi Jim said, “We have come a very long way in this case.”
William Clark, Libertarian Party of Florida, said: “You did an excellent job. You saved a lot of business.”
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Carlos Hermida, who owns a dispensary for hemp in Tampa, has been to previous meetings of the committee regarding this bill. He chose not to go to Tallahassee on Monday after Robinson’s amendment was added to the bill last Friday.
Hermida, in a message to the Phoenix, said that Robinson had listened to what Hermida and others were saying. “I cannot help but be grateful to the representative for defending the hemp industry and ensuring the safety of our children.”
Robinson’s bill HB 1475, as well as the similar version of the state Senate, set limits for how much THC was allowed per serving and package. Robinson increased the limits after the bill’s first hearing in the House committee. However, hemp advocates claimed that the limits were still too low. They would have made hemp products less potent and therefore threatened their businesses.
Robinson acknowledged that “there’s more work to do in this area,” but added that it was a good indication that the committee system works. He said that it was important to get input from other stakeholders.
The measure has been unanimously approved by House Infrastructure Committee (its third and final committee) and will now be brought to the House Floor. The Senate version (SB 1676), is set to be heard by the Fiscal Policy Committee this Thursday.
This article was originally published by Florida Phoenix.
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Photo by Brendan Cleak.
The post Florida Lawmakers Pass Hemp Regulation Bill after Removing the THC Cap that Stakeholders Opposed first appeared on Marijuana Minute.
