Yes! As long as it carries less than 0.3 percent THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD oil is legal to grow, sell, and purchase in Florida.
It was during the summer of 2019 that CBD oil was officially deemed legal in the Sunshine State. Thus, it’s a prime time to discuss the key events that helped initiate its legality. And as CBD is becoming a high-demand supplement in our culture, it’s important to understand rules and standards in Florida to keep yourself within the bounds of the law.
Here’s what you need to know in order to comprehensively answer the question, is CBD oil legal in Florida?
Florida’s Journey to Hemp Legalization
Compared to other states like Nebraska and Texas, Florida’s path to legalization was a rather smooth one.
2014 - SB 1030/Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014
In 2014, CBD oil began trickling onto the Florida scene among its qualifying medical patients. Governor Rick Scott signed SB 1030, or the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act. This legalized low-THC CBD oil for patients with specific medical conditions. With a doctor’s recommendation, they could obtain medical cannabis that had 10 percent or more CBD and no more than 0.8 percent of THC.
Governor Scott also signed SB 1700, which protected the identities of the patients who used the CBD oil. They nicknamed this medical cannabis “Charlotte’s Web.” Charlotte’s Web is in reference to the low-THC and high-CBD hemp strain six-year-old Charlotte Figi took for her medical condition; this ultimately helped elevate CBD to national attention in 2013.
2016 - Amendment 2/Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative
The state’s medical cannabis program was further expanded in November 2016 with Amendment 2. This officially legalized medical marijuana, allowing doctors to prescribe forms of marijuana to patients, but it did not include smokable marijuana. It also required that marijuana and distribution centers be registered and regulated by the Department of Health.
Later in 2019, Governor Ron DeSantis passed SB 182, which allowed qualifying patients to smoke marijuana and have access to cannabis products that contain high levels of both THC and CBD.
2017 - Industrial Hemp Research Pilot Program
With the expansion of medical marijuana programs, CBD- or hemp-specific programs were on their way as well. In 2017, Governor Scott signed the Industrial Hemp Research Pilot Project. It allowed Florida A&M University and the University of Florida to cultivate, test, and produce certified hemp seeds. The team of researchers would study which hemp varieties grow best in Florida’s climate and soil and determine the best growing practices to pursue.
The program was approved by the University of Florida’s Board of Trustees in 2018, planting the first hemp seeds in Spring 2019. This pilot program helped Florida pioneer the possibility of making industrial hemp available as a viable new crop.
2019 - SB 1020
In accordance with the 2018 Farm Bill, SB 1020 was passed by Florida lawmakers in July 2019. This was an exciting bill that fueled several key changes:
- It created a state hemp program under the Department of Agriculture. The Department would oversee the licensing and cultivation of hemp.
- It explicitly legalized hemp. The bill defined hemp as a plant containing less than 0.3 percent THC by dry weight (same as the federal standard).
- Legalized hemp-derived CBD products. SB 1020 stated that hemp-derived cannabinoids are not controlled substances.
➤ Get quality, legal, hemp-derived CBD in Florida
Looking Ahead
With the legalization of hemp-derived CBD oil, Florida has also been looking to legalize adult recreational marijuana. For instance, in early 2020, Senator Jeff Brandes filed SB 1860, a bill that would legalize marijuana use for adults 21 years of age or older, but it was withdrawn from consideration in March.
SB 1860 was one of at least 23 marijuana bills that were scheduled for discussion. Even though SB 1860 won’t make it on the November ballot, adult marijuana use still remains a topic to be explored by the state this year.
Shopping with Care
You can access and purchase CBD oil in shops and online stores across Florida. But this open access means that as a consumer, you have to be cautious about what you buy.
Where to find and buy CBD oil isn’t the concern—it’s about finding a brand/product that stays true to its word of bringing quality and natural ingredients. Therefore, take plenty of time to research these products. This time can make all the difference in discovering CBD oil that’s safe to put into your body.
Start by finding out:
- Where and how the hemp plant was grown.
- The extraction and refinement methods used to create the CBD oil.
- Where and how lab testing was done (or was it even done at all?). Florida requires its CBD products to carry a QR code that links to the test results.
Moreover, laws change over time. Stay informed on the latest news and state legislation to ensure that what you buy and consume is safe and legal.
Discover Quality CBD Oil Today
The HempLucid team is committed to providing quality CBD oil that celebrates the natural qualities of the hemp plant. We pride ourselves on providing an educational experience to help you further your knowledge of hemp and make better consumer decisions about CBD.
To learn more about our ingredients, be sure to check out our products. Each item comes with a handy QR code that gives you access to its Certificate of Analysis (COA). You’ll have access to review lab tests and product specification sheets.
