Ayo, check it, chess vs. checkers by Gov. Densantis
Peep this, my homies. Gov. DeSantis straight up vetoed a new bill that was gonna regulate some intoxicating hemp and at the same time, he’s talking smack about this cannabis legalization amendment. This dude is playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers, tryna outsmart the marijuana industry and his own voters in Florida.
DeSantis ain’t playin’ around, he’s out here vetoing bills left and right to protect the Florida hemp industry and all the jobs that come with it. Plus, he’s throwing shade at the weed companies in Florida who were gunning to kick intoxicating hemp to the curb so they could be the only game in town when it comes to selling cannabis.
This whole situation has got me thinking of that “statergery” line from Will Ferrell playing George Bush on SNL. DeSantis is out here punching above his weight class in terms of smarts and vocab skills, trying to make moves that’ll keep him ahead of the game.
The bill that DeSantis shot down was all about regulating THC, that stuff that gets you high. They were tryna limit how much THC could be in products and even outlaw stuff with delta-8 THC. It’s a whole mess with hemp, which has these two cannabinoids that can give you a buzz: delta-8 and delta-9.
In his veto message, DeSantis talked about how the bill had good intentions but would end up putting too much pressure on small businesses and not really achieve its goals. The hemp farmers and businesses were all up in arms about it, saying it would basically shut down their whole operation and cost the state millions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs.
Even though everyone was against it, the Senate still passed the bill and so did the House. But DeSantis shut it down and told them to come back with a better plan in 2025. He wants them to work with all the people involved to come up with a solid set of rules for making and selling hemp products.
The Florida Healthy Alternatives Association, which reps the hemp industry, was all about DeSantis’ decision. They said the Legislature didn’t understand how their bill would mess things up for everyday folks who rely on hemp and CBD products instead of taking harmful meds.
DeSantis laid out a roadmap for a new bill, talking about quality control, retail sales, and labeling for hemp products. He wants random inspections, testing, and limits on how much you can buy at once. Plus, he thinks hemp products should be sold behind the counter and kept away from schools and other places where kids hang out.
DeSantis also called out the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to keep an eye out for any products that break Florida law. The Ag Commissioner is on board with cracking down on any hemp stuff that’s targeting kids or trying to get people high.
The folks in charge of lobbying against the bill spent big bucks to fight it before it even passed. They dropped over $150k on lobbyists who were working to make sure this bill didn’t see the light of day.
This whole mess is just another chapter in Florida’s wild ride with hemp and weed. The industry has blown up over the last few years thanks to some new laws that let folks grow hemp as long as it’s got less than 0.3% THC.
DeSantis signed a law last year banning hemp sales to anyone under 21 and making sure any hemp products that looked like candy were off-limits. This was all to keep the peace with the medical marijuana business in Florida, which rakes in billions every year.
With this veto, DeSantis is looking out for the hemp industry ahead of a big vote coming up in November on legalizing weed for fun. If this amendment passes, current medical marijuana shops could start selling recreational pot too. And that means more competition for the hemp industry.
DeSantis isn’t a fan of this whole legalization idea and he’s ready to go to war over it. Even though medical marijuana is already a big deal in Florida, with over 600 shops across the state, DeSantis doesn’t wanna see more weed flowing through local communities.
So yeah, DeSantis put his foot down on SB 1698 and saved the day for the hemp sector in Florida. He knew those new rules would’ve wrecked small businesses and messed up the market. This move shows he’s all about sensible laws that keep things running smooth.
But don’t get it twisted, y’all – DeSantis is still holding strong against fully legalizing weed in Florida. He ain’t backing down from this fight anytime soon.
So there you have it – DeSantis making power moves like he’s playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers. The game ain’t over yet though, so stay tuned for more drama as Florida gets closer to deciding whether or not they’re gonna light up some legal weed.