Florida Senate - 2015                          SENATOR AMENDMENT
       Bill No. CS for CS for SB 7066
       
       
       
       
       
       
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                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
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       Senator Clemens moved the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Between lines 844 and 845
    4  insert:
    5         Section 3. Section 581.301, Florida Statutes, is created to
    6  read:
    7         581.301 Hemp.—
    8         (1) DEFINITION.—As used in this section, the term “hemp”
    9  means all parts of any plant of the genus Cannabis containing no
   10  more than 0.3 percent delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol.
   11         (2) AGRICULTURAL CROP.—Hemp is considered an agricultural
   12  commodity in this state which produces a viable, environmentally
   13  sound crop that requires less irrigation, fewer pesticides, and
   14  fewer toxic refinery processes than alternative materials and
   15  has multiple applications that include a wide variety of
   16  manufactured and fabricated products. The Legislature intends to
   17  promote economic development and job growth through the
   18  cultivation, processing, distribution, manufacturing, and sale
   19  of hemp. Upon meeting the requirements of subsection (3), an
   20  individual in this state may plant, grow, or harvest hemp.
   21         (3) REGISTRATION.—
   22         (a) Except as provided in this section, an individual
   23  intending to grow hemp must register with the department through
   24  submission of a form provided by the department containing:
   25         1. The name and address of the individual.
   26         2. A statement that the seeds obtained for planting are of
   27  a type and variety containing no more than 0.3 percent delta-9
   28  tetrahydrocannabinol.
   29         3. The location and acreage of all parcels sown with hemp
   30  and other field identification as may be required by the
   31  department.
   32         (b) An individual registered with the department pursuant
   33  to this section must allow hemp crops to be inspected and tested
   34  by and at the discretion of the department throughout sowing,
   35  growing season, harvest, storage, processing, manufacturing, and
   36  distribution.
   37         (c) The department may assess an annual registration fee on
   38  growers of up to $100 for the performance of its duties under
   39  this section.
   40         (d) The registration requirements of this section do not
   41  apply to employees of the Florida Agricultural Experiment
   42  Station of the University of Florida, Florida Cooperative
   43  Extension Service of the University of Florida, or the State
   44  University System involved in research or extension-related
   45  activities.
   46         (4) RULEMAKING.—
   47         (a) The department shall adopt rules that include, but are
   48  not limited to:
   49         1. Testing of the hemp during growth to determine delta-9
   50  tetrahydrocannabinol levels.
   51         2. Inspection of the hemp during sowing, growing season,
   52  harvest, storage, processing, manufacturing, and distribution.
   53         3. Assessment of a fee that is commensurate with the costs
   54  of the department’s activities in testing and inspection of hemp
   55  production.
   56         4. Any other rules and procedures necessary to carry out
   57  this section.
   58         (b) The department may not adopt under this chapter, or any
   59  other provision of law, a rule that prohibits an individual from
   60  growing, processing, distributing, manufacturing, or selling
   61  hemp based on its legal status under federal law.
   62         (5) AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE FOR CANNABIS OFFENSES.—It is an
   63  affirmative defense to a charge or prosecution for the
   64  possession, cultivation, manufacturing, delivery, distribution,
   65  or sale of cannabis under chapter 893 that:
   66         (a) The defendant was growing, processing, distributing,
   67  manufacturing, or selling hemp pursuant to this section; or
   68         (b) The defendant had valid applicable controlled
   69  substances registrations from the United States Drug Enforcement
   70  Administration.
   71         (6) EXCEPTIONS TO OTHER LAWS.—It is not a violation of
   72  state or local law for an individual to grow, process,
   73  distribute, move, manufacture, dispose of, sell, purchase, or
   74  possess hemp.
   75  
   76  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
   77  And the title is amended as follows:
   78         Delete line 128
   79  and insert:
   80         the compassionate use registry; creating s. 581.301,
   81         F.S.; defining a term; providing that hemp is an
   82         agricultural crop; providing legislative intent;
   83         requiring registration of hemp producers; providing
   84         registration requirements; requiring an individual
   85         registered with the Department of Agriculture and
   86         Consumer Services to allow hemp crops to be inspected
   87         and tested by the department; authorizing the
   88         department to assess an annual registration fee;
   89         providing exemptions to the registration requirement;
   90         requiring the department to adopt rules; providing for
   91         an affirmative defense to certain charges relating to
   92         cannabis; providing exceptions to other laws; amending
   93         s. 893.055,