TALLAHASSEE \u2014 A year after Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill on the issue, lawmakers again are considering proposals aimed at imposing strict regulations on the sale and production of euphoria-inducing hemp products. This year\u2019s legislation, however, also targets a new kind of buzz \u2014 beverages that include THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary psychoactive component in cannabis that\u2019s responsible for getting users high.<\/p>\n
THC-infused beverages have mushroomed in popularity and can be sold in convenience stores, grocery stores and liquor stores. The drinks also are sold by retailers that specialize in hemp-derived products or can be purchased online. As the 2025 legislative session approaches the midpoint Wednesday, House and Senate proposals seeking to impose strict regulations on consumable hemp-based products also address THC-infused drinks. Such beverages were not included in a wide-ranging 2024 measure that hemp retailers and growers strenuously opposed and which the governor vetoed.<\/p>\n
The Senate proposal (SB 438) would require THC-infused beverages to be distributed by alcohol wholesalers and sold by retailers and establishments that have liquor licenses. The plan, which is ready for a full Senate vote, also would cap the amount of THC in the drinks, which typically are seltzer-like, flavored beverages that do not contain alcohol. \u201cThey are intoxicating beverages \u2026 and in the bill, they are treated as intoxicating beverages, including how the products get from the manufacturers to the store location through the distribution system that we currently have here in the state of Florida,\u201d bill sponsor Colleen Burton, R-Lakeland, told the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee before the panel unanimously approved the proposal last week.
\nSen. Colleen Burton, R-Lakeland, is sponsoring a bill aimed at regulating hemp and THC beverages. (Colin Hackley\/News Service of Florida file)<\/p>\n
Lawmakers have struggled to regulate euphoria-inducing cannabis products since a 2018 federal farm bill legalized hemp. Cannabis plants that have 0.3% or less of THC are considered hemp, while cannabis plants with a THC level of more than 0.3% are deemed marijuana. Sales of hemp-derived products have mushroomed since the federal law was passed. Supporters of hemp-based products also maintain that they offer a cheaper alternative for people who don\u2019t want to participate in the state\u2019s medical-marijuana program, which voters approved in 2016. Critics contend that the hemp products lack the rigorous scrutiny and oversight imposed on medical-marijuana companies.<\/p>\n
The THC-infused drinks \u2014 with brands such as \u201cBuddi,\u201d \u201cHi Seltzer,\u201d \u201cPlift,\u201d and \u201cLolli\u201d \u2014 are marketed as a healthier alternative to booze and are relative latecomers to the fast-growing hemp market. \u201cSkip the hangover and vibe rite,\u201d Delta Cannabis Water, which is operated by Delta Beverages LLC, says on its website. Delta Beverages products include fruit-flavored carbonated beverages with 5, 10 or 20 mg of THC. The Senate proposal would cap THC at 5 mg. Jack Sherrie, the North Carolina-based company\u2019s founder and CEO, told the Senate committee his business is \u201cone of the first and fastest-growing THC beverages companies\u201d in the nation and that Florida is their top-selling state. Sherrie said his products undergo testing and are distributed by Anheuser-Busch wholesalers. He welcomed the proposed regulations. \u201cResponsible operators are left to navigate this wild west environment where bad actors can take shortcuts and put consumers at risk. Senator Burton\u2019s bill brings much needed clarity and accountability to the industry, and we strongly support this intent,\u201d Sherrie said.<\/p>\n
But others in the industry disagree. Michael Smith, the co-owner of Herban Flow, a \u201cspecialty\u201d retailer in downtown St. Petersburg, said his business is restricted to people ages 21 and older. Smith said he supports regulations such as child-proof packaging, age verification for sales and product testing \u2014 elements that also are included in Burton\u2019s proposal. \u201cBut this bill, as currently written, will unintentionally damage a growing regulated industry, and when it comes to the safety, it does little to improve, particularly when it comes to beverages,\u201d Smith said. The 5 mg THC limit \u201cis far below what consumers are already used to and well below the functional standards in other states,\u201d Smith argued. \u201cIf what\u2019s being proposed goes through, it\u2019ll make Florida one of the most restrictive and least competitive markets in the country,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The House Housing, Agriculture and Tourism Subcommittee is slated to take up two hemp-related bills on Tuesday. One of the proposals (PCB HAT 25-01) would require THC-infused beverages to be sold by establishments with liquor licenses. The other bill (PCB HAT 25-02) would set a 60% excise tax on hemp-derived products other than beverages. The House plan would impose a $2.25 per gallon tax on THC beverages sold in bulk and a 29-cent per pint tax on THC beverages sold in containers less than a gallon. Both the House and Senate plans would create new regulations and set potency limits for consumable hemp products being sold throughout the state.<\/p>\n
Florida already restricts the sales of hemp-derived products to people over age 21. The legislation would go further to limit products\u2019 appeal to children. As an example, part of the House bill would require consumable hemp products to be sold in packages that are a single color and not transparent. Packages also would have to be labeled with a \u201cuniversal\u201d THC in a different color. The House and Senate bills also would require that products be tested by a state-certified lab and would ban the sales of synthetic hemp products.<\/p>\n
In conclusion, the proposed bills aim to regulate the hemp industry, particularly THC-infused beverages, to ensure consumer safety and prevent underage access. While some industry operators welcome the regulations, others argue that they would stifle the growing industry and drive consumers to the black market. The fate of these proposals remains to be seen as the legislative session continues.<\/p>\n
Q: What is the current status of hemp regulation in Florida?
\nA: Lawmakers are considering proposals to regulate the sale and production of euphoria-inducing hemp products, including THC-infused beverages.
\nQ: What is the Senate proposal (SB 438)?
\nA: The proposal would require THC-infused beverages to be distributed by alcohol wholesalers and sold by retailers and establishments with liquor licenses, and cap the amount of THC in the drinks at 5 mg.
\nQ: What is the House proposal?
\nA: The House proposal would require THC-infused beverages to be sold by establishments with liquor licenses and impose a 60% excise tax on hemp-derived products other than beverages.
\nQ: What are the concerns of the industry operators?
\nA: Some industry operators argue that the proposed regulations would damage the growing regulated industry, limit consumer choice, and drive consumers to the black market.
\nQ: What is the goal of the proposed regulations?
\nA: The goal is to ensure consumer safety, prevent underage access, and provide clarity and accountability to the industry. <\/p>\n
Originally Published: March 31, 2025 at 5:14 PM EDT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Introduction to Hemp Regulation TALLAHASSEE \u2014 A year after Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill on the issue, lawmakers again are considering proposals aimed at imposing strict regulations on the sale and production of euphoria-inducing hemp products. This year\u2019s legislation, however, also targets a new kind of buzz \u2014 beverages that include THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":11917,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-11916","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health-wellness"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/www.sun-sentinel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migration\/2019\/12\/26\/3DCPCWXQ7FDHFGNHWSHPYPP264.jpg?w=1400px&strip=all&w=1254&resize=1254,836&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11916"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11916"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11916\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11918,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11916\/revisions\/11918"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11917"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11916"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11916"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11916"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}