Florida looks to approve hemp plan; FDA holding public CBD hearing this week

On July 1, Florida could lead the way as one of the first states to approve and begin implementing a comprehensive plan to regulate the growth, distribution and sale of hemp for commercial use in selling CBD and CBD products.

The Florida Senate finalized SB 1020 on May 3, 2019, and it sits on the Florida governor’s desk, expected to be approved. The “Florida Hemp Bill” will require distributors and sellers to:

• Have a Certificate of Analysis from an independent testing laboratory that lists batch number, ingredients and more;
• Packaging that includes a scannable barcode or quick response code linked to the certificate of analysis, batch number, website with product info, expiration date, milligrams of hemp extract, and more.

The bill passage would be a boon for Florida farmers with a national hemp market estimated at $22 billion according to law360.com.

“Florida farmers are particularly excited about the bill because, after several years of struggles due to natural disasters, many believe Florida’s climate and soil will provide a favorable environment for hemp to grow year-round,” writes law360.com. “Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to sign the bill into law in the coming weeks.

“After [July 1], hemp, its derivatives and extracts — such as cannabidiol, or CBD — will no longer be illegal controlled substances under Florida law and may be sold in Florida subject to certain requirements.”

By Aug. 1 of this year the state must begin its rulemaking process and will submit its plan for overseeing Florida’s hemp program to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for approval. The plan must be approved by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture according to the 2018 Farm Bill.

“Florida is making fundamental decisions that will change the industry for all of us,” says Tiffany Brooks of Miracle Nutritional Products, based in Hernando Beach, Fla.

The U.S. Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) legalized the industrial use of hemp and removed it from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s list of controlled substances, separating it from marijuana and placing it under the supervision of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

According to CNN, “the FDA is holding the first public hearing this coming Friday on a plan to legalize CBD in food and drinks…Cannabis-related products have flooded the market, making health claims about pain relief, immune function and anxiety and depression and it’s expected to be a $20 billion dollar industry by 2022.

For additional information on the Florida bill go to www.flsenate.gov/Committees/BillSummaries/2019/html/2027.