Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) last week vetoed a bill that would have banned hemp-based intoxicants.
The bill, which was passed in March, would have banned hemp-derived intoxicants like Delta-8, Delta-9 and Delta-10. Leaders in the state’s hemp industry have said the bill would have crippled businesses and outlawed the majority of legally-produced hemp products.
“While Senate Bill 1698’s goals are commendable, the bill would, in fact, impose debilitating regulatory burdens on small businesses and almost certainly fail to achieve its purposes,” wrote DeSantis in a letter to Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd, explaining his decision.
DeSantis argued that a previous law prohibited anyone under the age of 21 from purchasing intoxicating hemp products and banned the sale of products that are “mislabeled or attractive to children.”
Staffers in DeSantis’ office have reportedly said the veto was made to garner funds and support from the hemp industry in his campaign against the proposed legalization of marijuana.
Hemp Companies Sue Iowa Over THC Limits
Two Iowa beverage manufacturers are suing the state over a new law that limits THC in hemp products.
Climbing Kites and Field Day Brewing Co. recently filed the suit, claiming that the state’s interpretation of a bill that was passed earlier this year contradicts the law.
In 2020, Iowa’s governor signed a bill that limited THC levels in hemp products to less than 0.3%. This year, the legislature passed a bill that limits the amount of THC in a hemp consumable to three-tenths of 1% on a dry-weight basis, or equal to or less than four milligrams per serving and 10 milligrams per container.
According to Iowa Capital Dispatch, the state’s Department of Health and Human Services recently released guidance for hemp manufacturers, informing them that it is defining a “serving” as 12 ounces.
The suit claims this contradicts the 10 milligrams per container rule and would make approximately 80% of their current inventory illegal, despite the products containing less than three-tenths of 1% THC.
The companies are aiming to stop the state from enforcing the new limits and claiming that a THC limit of four milligrams per serving violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution by attempting to usurp the federal Food and Drug Administration’s authority.
Maryland Makes Historic Pardon
Last week, the governor of Maryland pardoned more than 175,000 convictions for marijuana crimes.
According to a news release from Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) office, the governor signed an executive order pardoning 175,000 Maryland convictions for misdemeanor possession of cannabis and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
The governor’s office claims that this is the largest marijuana pardon to have happened in any state.