Learn about hemp industry at ‘road tour’

Curious about Florida’s new hemp industry? No problem — the Hemp Industries Association of Florida is launching its “hemp road tour” today in South Florida.

The free information event is open to the public from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Bailey Contemporary Arts, 41 NE First St., in Pompano Beach. The road tour is being hosted by the state hemp trade association, a nonprofit created to promote the industry in Florida.

David Hasenauer, chairman of the Hemp Industries Association of Florida and CEO of hemp processing company Greenpoint Research, said he thinks educating people about Florida’s new industry is important because “there’s so much misinformation about there. You see interviews with people who say all kinds of things about what CBD does. Hemp has thousands of different uses.”

Hemp, which is used to make CBD oil and a variety of other products, became legal in Florida through a law signed in

Ron DeSantis.

Hasenauer said the event might appeal to those considering starting a business related to hemp or who want to know about governmental policies concerning hemp or its prime product, CBD.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is working with farmers in the state who are interested in growing hemp and drafted regulations for those who want to grow, sell or distribute hemp products.

Cannabidiol, known as CBD, is produced from the “no-high” strain of the hemp plant, containing a trace of THC. Hemp became federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill.

State Rep. Chip LaMarca, R-Lighthouse Point, is scheduled to speak at Thursday’s event, as well as representatives from Florida’s Department of Agriculture, Green Scientific Labs in Davie and the Greenberg Traurig law firm in South Florida.

To register for the road tour, go online to Hemp Industry Association Road Tour. July by Gov.