If you thought bad ideas only happen once, think again. Senator Colleen Burton (R) is back for another round of trying to dismantle Florida’s hemp industry with SB 1698, a bill so restrictive that even a bottle of NyQuil would have more of a kick than the products it targets.
But here’s the fun part: she’s tried this before—and failed.
Burton has a history of coming for hemp like an overzealous HOA president who just hates the color of your mailbox. But despite her previous losses, she’s back at it, determined to do what she couldn’t before—put Florida’s booming hemp industry out of business and hand the market to big cannabis corporations.
So, let’s break this bill down, expose its flaws, and remind Senator Burton why she should probably find a new hobby.
SB 1698: The Plot of This Terrible Sequel
If SB 1698 were a movie, it would be one of those unnecessary sequels where the villain just won’t stay dead. The bill is essentially a carbon copy of previous attempts to strangle Florida’s hemp industry, just with a few extra bureaucratic buzzwords sprinkled in.
Here’s what this bill proposes:
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THC limits so low they might as well not exist – The bill suggests a 0.5mg THC per serving limit and a 2mg total per package. That means a single hemp gummy would have less THC than a ripe mango.
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Stricter packaging rules – As if hemp companies aren’t already following more regulations than a NASA launch.
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Increased retail enforcement – Which translates to: “We’re going to make it so annoying to sell these products that businesses will just give up.”
Burton and her supporters claim this bill is about “safety” and “protecting consumers” from dangerous hemp products—which is funny, because Florida is one of the biggest states for alcohol sales, and no one is capping vodka bottles at 0.5% ABV.
So, what’s really going on here?
Déjà Vu: Burton’s Previous Hemp Fails
Burton isn’t new to this anti-hemp crusade. In fact, she’s been trying—and failing—to kill the industry for a while now.
2023 – The Great Hemp Ban That Wasn’t
Last year, Burton introduced a similar bill aiming to limit THC levels in hemp-derived products. It sparked massive backlash from small business owners, consumers, and even some lawmakers who realized that shutting down a billion-dollar industry in a state that loves capitalism might not be the best idea.
The bill crashed and burned, leaving Burton to lick her legislative wounds and scheme for her next attempt.
2022 – Another Swing, Another Miss
Before that, Burton tried sneaking hemp restrictions into another bill, but it ended up fizzling out faster than a cheap firework.
It seems that no matter how many times she tries, the free market and common sense keep getting in her way.
The Real Agenda: Follow the Money
So, why is Burton so determined to restrict hemp? Simple—she’s working for the medical marijuana industry.
Florida’s medical cannabis dispensaries have a monopoly on high-THC products. Hemp-derived THC is legal under the Farm Bill, making it cheaper and easier to access than dispensary weed. If you were a giant dispensary chain looking to eliminate competition, you’d probably want hemp THC banned too.
By capping THC levels at a measly 0.5mg, she’s essentially saying:
“We’re not banning hemp—just making it impossible for anyone to buy or sell it in any meaningful way.”
Why This Bill Is a Disaster
If SB 1698 passes, here’s what happens:
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Thousands of jobs disappear – Florida’s hemp industry supports farmers, retailers, manufacturers, and delivery services.
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Businesses shut down – The companies that followed the law and invested millions into hemp products will be forced to close their doors.
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Consumers turn to the black market – Instead of buying tested, regulated hemp THC, people will turn to sketchy, untested alternatives.
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Florida loses massive tax revenue – The state rakes in millions in tax dollars from hemp sales. Why throw that away?
It’s almost like Burton didn’t think this through. Or maybe she did, and she just doesn’t care.
The Hypocrisy of It All
Florida allows:
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Alcohol sales everywhere – No restrictions on ABV. You can grab a bottle of Everclear with enough alcohol to fuel a rocket, no problem.
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Cigarettes and vapes – Fully legal and widely available.
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Gambling – The state actively promotes betting, which ruins more lives than a hemp gummy ever could.
But a 10mg THC hemp gummy? That’s where Burton draws the line.
This is the kind of logic that makes you question whether our lawmakers actually understand the industries they’re trying to regulate—or if they’re just parroting talking points from corporate lobbyists.
How You Can Fight Back
If you’re tired of watching misguided politicians try to kill a thriving industry, here’s what you can do:
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Call Your Legislators – Tell them to vote NO on SB 1698 and protect Florida’s hemp industry.
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Sign Petitions – Groups like the Florida Hemp Council and other advocacy organizations are fighting back.
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Spread the Word – Many Floridians have no idea this is happening. Share this information so people can take action.
Final Thoughts: Burton’s Losing Streak Continues
At this point, Senator Burton’s anti-hemp agenda is as predictable as a bad movie sequel—and just as painful to watch. She’s failed multiple times to crush Florida’s hemp industry, and she’s going to fail again.
But that doesn’t mean we can be complacent. If we don’t push back, Burton and her corporate cannabis allies will keep chipping away at hemp laws until there’s nothing left.
So let’s make sure that SB 1698 goes where it belongs—straight to the legislative trash bin, right next to Burton’s previous failed attempts.
TL;DR:
Senator Colleen Burton is trying (and failing) again to kill Florida’s hemp industry with insane THC limits. This is a big win for dispensaries and a huge loss for consumers and businesses. But with enough pressure, we can send her latest bill to the same graveyard as her past failures.
Want to keep Florida’s hemp industry alive? Call your legislators, spread the word, and tell Burton: this sequel is even worse than the first.
