Florida DBPR Announces More Than 240 Arrests Through Initiative to Stop the Sale of Harmful Hemp Products to Minors
February 7, 2025
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) announced it has made 244 arrests through its proactive initiative to stop the sale of harmful hemp products to minors – further reinforcing the state’s dedication to protecting young Floridians from the serious health risks hemp products can have on developing brains.
“Thanks to Governor DeSantis, Florida has strong protections in place to prevent the sale of these harmful drugs to children and DBPR is proud to support his commitment,” said DBPR Secretary Melanie S. Griffin. “With more than 200 arrests in just a few months, it is clear that this proactive initiative has had a profound impact on safeguarding Florida’s youth from the harmful effects of hemp products, and we look forward to keeping the momentum going.”
In June 2023, Governor DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1676, which instituted a series of consumer protections related to the sale of hemp products. Florida law now prohibits the sale of hemp products to anyone under 21, prohibits the sale or distribution of hemp products found to be mislabeled or attractive to children, requires hemp processing facilities to meet food safety and sanitation standards, and provides a potency cap on products containing hemp extract.
In July 2024, the division began including hemp in its age-restricted product operations to identify the sale of hemp products to individuals under the age of 21. Establishments involved in these investigations include locations accessible to minors like gas stations, grocery stores, and smoke shops. To date, all 244 cases have been referred to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for further action.
For more information on DBPR’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, visit MyFloridaLicense.com.
