Florida House Of Representatives Urged To Chose People Over Profit By Hemp Businesses & Advocates

Patrick O'Brien, a veteran and founder of Learn Sativa University and SaveFLHemp.org, an organization committed to protecting Florida's hemp industry and small businesses that depend on it, spoke before the Florida House of Representatives where he advocated for small businesses and the people of Florida. His plea, however, went unanswered as the House pushed forward with Bill 1475, potentially endangering Florida's entire hemp industry.

O'Brien, along with other business owners and cancer survivors, was allotted a mere 30-second window to argue against the bill's devastating consequences on small businesses, individuals and the economy. Despite the overwhelming evidence against the bill's veracity, hemp businesses were told to "stay in their lane" as HB 1475 continues to push forward.

SaveFLHemp.org stated: “The bill, disguised as a measure to protect children, would primarily benefit Florida MMTCs at the expense of the hemp industry. The representatives, many of whom demonstrated little knowledge of the plant, its uses, or the science behind it, chose profit over people, voting in favor of the bill while claiming to hear the concerns of the crowd. The proposed legislation is constitutionally unethical and goes against federal guidelines. Moreover, the 'guidelines' set by this bill are already in effect in Florida, and the addition of outrageous THC caps and the redefining of hemp in Florida law would only serve to destroy small businesses.”

All eyes are now on the next committees, the Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee and the Infrastructure Strategies Committee. They both possess the power to stand with small businesses and prevent large corporations from monopolizing the hemp industry in Florida, a state that prides itself on freedom and opportunity.

O'Brien also initiated a petition opposing the bills, which can be signed online at saveflhemp.org. With thousands of signatures already collected, the goal is to gather even more support to protect Florida's hemp industry.

The fight for the industry will continue when O'Brien returns to Tallahassee for SB 1676, which will be presented before the Fiscal Committee. The bill is almost identical to HB 1475 and could devastate the hemp industry.

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Photo: Courtesy of SaveFLHemp.org