In the corridors of Florida’s legislative halls, a heated dispute is unfolding over Florida’s federally legal cannabis/hemp market. Florida State Senator Colleen Burton is rumored to be introducing similar legislation as last year’s SB1698 that Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed critics claimed it would have made almost 90% of federally legal cannabis products a felony and could have cost the state over 100,000 jobs in the federally legal cannabis /hemp industries. This as Florida voters rejected Amendment 3 which would have legalized cannabis for adults 21 and over but would have likely only allowed a handful of politically connected companies to sell and operate.

Although the rumored legislation is framed as an effort to create a safer and more regulated hemp market, critics argue it is being designed to maintain Florida’s existing cannabis monopoly. Public records indicate that cannabis giants such as Trulieve, Curaleaf, and Muv have lobbyists registered for similar bills in the past. Observers say these companies may be seeking to influence the bill in ways that eliminate competition—particularly by criminalizing the possession, manufacture, and distribution of certain federally legal cannabis products like THCA flower and most Delta variants.
Opponents warn that criminalizing these products would deal a devastating blow to Florida’s multi-billion-dollar hemp industry, pushing out small businesses (often referred to as “mom and pops”) and allowing large corporate players to tighten their hold on the market. They also caution that creating new felony offenses could have broader social consequences, potentially leading to increases in felony convictions and the associated long-term ramifications, such as losing voting rights, facing reduced employment opportunities, and experiencing limited access to social services.
In this ongoing tug-of-war, questions arise about how legislation should balance consumer protection with market competition, and whether it should safeguard small businesses or further solidify monopolistic privileges with current federally illegal cannabis industry leaders. With last years SB 1698 now being vetoed scrutiny—and rumors of Burton’s upcoming bill—Florida lawmakers, advocates, and citizens are left to weigh the future of the state’s hemp industry, as well as the core principles of justice, fairness, and economic opportunity in a free-market environment.
Ultimately, Florida’s unfolding legislative drama offers a revealing look at the complexities of regulating emerging industries, the outsized influence of major cannabis lobbyists, and the challenge of maintaining a fair and open market in the Sunshine State.