JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Some in the hemp industry are concerned about the potential passing of Amendment 3 which would legalize the recreational use of marijuana for adults in Florida.
If marijuana is legalized, some are concerned that consumer interest in hemp-based products like delta-9, which has fewer effects, will drop dramatically.
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On Monday, News4JAX drove all over Jacksonville to smoke shops that sell legal hemp-based products like gummies and edibles.
At one smoke shop just off Atlantic Boulevard, the owner said half its sales come from hemp-based products.
Down the road, another shop owner on Beach Boulevard said his business would take a hit if marijuana dispensaries started increasing the amount of marijuana sold in Florida. The sentiment was the same at a smoke shop in Jacksonville Beach.
The Washington Post reported on Sunday that one hemp industry executive donated $100,000 to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ new political action committee set up to stop Amendment 3.
WaPo: DeSantis in middle of Florida feud pitting marijuana against hemp
DeSantis has said he has different reasons for opposing Amendment 3 but he and many in the hemp industry find themselves on the same side of this debate.
“The farm bill in 2018 created a loophole where it allowed growers and manufacturers to create these intoxicating hemp products which might be things like delta-9,” said Jesse Redmond with an organization called Water Tower Research, which works on investor relations.
Redmond specializes in the cannabis industry.
“We’re not of the opinion these things are bad or things people shouldn’t have access to, we just feel there should be a regulated system and be sold to people that are over 21 years of age,” Redmond said.
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Redmond said his organization is pushing for more regulations in the hemp industry and want it to have the same regulations as cannabis does adding Gov. DeSantis has opposed Amendment 3 but has not openly opposed an unregulated hemp industry.
“So, unfortunately, if Amendment 3 passes it would take business from those smoke shops but that’s kind of a necessary evil to advance the industry and provide safe and legal products,” Redmond said.
But not all smoke shops News4JAX visited on Monday said they would be hurting if Amendment 3 passes with 60% approval.
Some said they still sell a lot of vape pens and other products to marijuana users which would offset the losses.