Nikki Fried to workshop Florida hemp businesses

Nikki Fried has an affinity for bringing the pot industry to Florida, and her plans are moving full steam ahead.

There’s been no shortage of news in 2019 about the Agriculture Commissioner. Just over the past few weeks, Florida Politics reported the outcome of her Israel trip was to prod the country’s budding cannabis sector, and that announcement was followed up by the creation of an 18-member Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee.

This week, the progressive Commissioner is making headlines again as she gears up to complete the last of three hemp rule-making workshops that took place this month throughout the state. The rule-making workshops come as Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to sign legislation that defines core policies for the newly-minted cannabis industry in Florida.

According to a news release by Fried’s Office, the workshops were in Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa. Monday’s workshop in Tallahassee will finish the circuit designed “to allow for citizens in the southern, central and northern regions of the state to participate.”

Monday’s meeting will focus on “various aspects of the new hemp rules from the Department’s divisions,” according to a statement. It will cover seed presentation, feed presentation and safety, including laboratory standards, requirements and fees and commercial testing standards to bring marijuana to market in Florida.

Coming up with standards for the production and sale of medical-grade marijuana and CBD products in Florida is the latest step toward cannabis legalization, of which POLITICO says data shows strong bipartisan support. As we move closer to the 2020 election, all eyes will shift to Florida, but it remains to be seen if a legal cannabis initiative will make its way to voter ballots.

If you’re a business leader looking to break into the hemp industry in North Florida, or an existing advocate for marijuana products, you can join Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture on Monday. Here’s what you need to know:

When: Monday, June 24 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: R.A. Gray Building, Auditorium, 500 S. Bronough St., Tallahassee.

Who: Commissioner Fried, FDACS officials, agriculture stakeholders.