Don’t let Florida’s touristy vibe fool you. When it comes to recreational cannabis, this state is as severe as a nasty case of sunburn. Despite multiple efforts to reform the Sunshine State’s Constitution, Tallahassee lawmakers have yet to approve adult-use recreational weed.
However, that doesn’t mean Florida is a no-go area for delta 8 fans. Indeed, now that hemp is federally legal, Florida has made it easier for locals to grow, sell, and use hemp-derived products.
Floridians can legally buy delta 8 THC if it comes from a hemp plant with ≤ 0.3 percent delta 9 THC. Plus, now that many cities have decriminalized petty weed possession, Floridians have less reason to fear owning federally legal IHF hemp flowers.
Tallahassee tentatively entered the medical cannabis industry when lawmakers passed SB 1030 in 2014. While this law was billed as a Medical Marijuana Registry, it only allowed doctors to prescribe high-CBD extracts. If a patient qualified for this program, they would only be allowed to consume products with 10 percent CBD content and below 0.8 percent delta 9 THC.
Two years later, Florida’s leaders expanded the Medical Marijuana Program to include extracts with above 0.8 percent THC. However, this new law forbade the use of smokable marijuana products. It wasn’t until 2019 that Florida allowed state-approved dispensaries to sell smokable cannabis goods.
Significantly for delta 8 fans, Florida introduced SB 1020 in 2019. This law basically copied all of the policies laid out in the 2018 US Farm Bill.
As SB 1020 states, “Hemp-derived cannabinoids, including, but not limited to, cannabidiol, are not controlled substances or adulterants.” This law also defines hemp extracts as, “a substance or compound intended for ingestion that is derived from or contains hemp and that does not contain other controlled substances.”
Today, Florida farmers can apply for a hemp farmer’s license, and residents can legally buy and use hemp-derived products. The only caveat is these products must have ≤ 0.3 percent delta 9 THC. There’s no mention of hemp-derived delta 8 THC in Florida’s statutes; hence, it’s technically legal.
Visitors often say Florida is the only state that gets more “Southern” the further north you are. This is true when it comes to cannabis legislation. While many central and southern counties have introduced decriminalization laws, most northern counties still enforce the state’s full cannabis penalties.
Case and point: Jacksonville has no decriminalization policy for recreational cannabis. If residents are caught with 20 grams or less of recreational pot, they could face one year in jail or a $1,000 fee.
While this doesn’t mean hemp-derived delta 8 THC is illegal in Jacksonville, residents have to be extra careful about using IHF’s hemp flowers. Customers must ensure the hemp products they buy have third-party lab results verifying there’s no more than 0.3 percent delta 9 THC.
Thankfully, since Jacksonville is Florida’s largest city, there are many CBD shops for locals to choose from. Whether you’re in Riverside, Downtown, or on Jacksonville Beach, you should find many vape stores and CBD vendors offering delta 8 products. Plus, if you can’t find anything you like in Jacksonville, you could easily hit up St. Augustine’s hemp scene.
Orlando made headlines in 2019 for all the wrong reasons. As you may recall, a grandmother visiting Walt Disney World was arrested this year for carrying doctor-approved CBD oil.
Even though hemp is legal in Florida, tourists must remember Orlando’s theme parks have their own rules. Indeed, both Walt Disney World and Universal Studios forbid all cannabis products, including CBD and delta 8 THC.
However, if you’re outside of Orlando’s family-friendly attractions, it’s legal to buy and use delta 8 products. In fact, Orlando recently decriminalized the possession of under 20 grams of pot. As of 2016, adults with these small traces of weed will face a $100 fine for a first offense.
While you won’t find many CBD shops near Orlando’s theme parks, you can visit a few hemp retailers in the Central Business District. Some locals also have luck finding delta 8 products near Lake Baldwin.
Miamians are pretty mellow when it comes to delta 8, CBD, and cannabis. Indeed, Miami’s local government introduced pot decriminalization laws in 2015. Just like Orlando, adults with less than 20 grams of marijuana will face a $100 fine for a first-time offense.
Anyone in Miami will have no problems finding CBD shops in areas like Little Havana and Downtown. There are also a few hemp-friendly stores near the city’s international airport and South Beach.
Because delta 8 carries the “THC” label, Floridians have to be careful about using this product out in the open. Even if you’re using a lab-verified IHF delta 8 tincture, many people don’t know the nuances between delta 9 and delta 8 THC. For your safety, you should only use delta 8 THC in a private residence far from view.
Currently, only Floridians with an MMJ card can legally smoke cannabis on their property. So, if you’re smoking delta 8 flower recreationally, you could get in trouble with law enforcement. Yes, hemp is legal in Florida—but it’s next to impossible for cops to tell the difference between hemp and marijuana.
Until Florida eases its stance on recreational cannabis, please be sure to reserve delta 8 or hemp flowers for at-home use.
Florida is neither the most restrictive nor the most lenient state for cannabis fans. While Florida has progressive medical marijuana policies, it still lacks statewide recreational legalization. However, when it comes to hemp buds, Floridians have nothing to fear.
Now that many shop owners know the differences between delta 8 and delta 9, you should have an easier time finding vape shops that carry this cannabinoid. This is especially true in more progressive cities like Key West, Fort Lauderdale, or Miami.
Of course, Floridians could also order delta 8 products from online shops like Industrial Hemp Farms. Although IHF is best known for its many CBD products, we’ve recently introduced dozens of “alt cannabinoid” offerings. Whether you’re into delta 8 THC, CBG, or CBN, you could find a specialty extract in our catalog. Be sure to visit this webpage for more info on our hemp offerings.
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