Florida Creates State Hemp Program
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Tuesday authorizing a state hemp program. SB 1020, which creates an industrial hemp program, cleared the Senate and House by unanimous votes.
The bill allows the Department of Agriculture to administer regulations regarding licensing and cultivation of hemp.
“Tonight’s hemp bill signing marks a transformation in Florida, and a critical step on the journey to creating a green industrial revolution, strengthening agriculture with an alternative crop of the future, and expanding access to safe, quality CBD products,” Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said in a statement.
In addition to industry regulations, the bill also establishes a structure to ensure the purity and compliance of cultivated product for the protection of consumers.
Fried expects that crops could be planted this year.
