Florida House Speaker Danny "Daniel" Perez on Wednesday named Rep. Michelle Salzman (R-Cantonment) to lead a new Combined Workgroup on Hemp.
"Thank you Speaker @Daniel_PerezFL for entrusting me with this critical issue," Salzman said after being appointed.
Per Danny Perez, Michelle Salzman's specific job title would be Combined Workgroup Manager.
“Florida’s hemp industry has grown rapidly, but with that growth, we’ve seen an influx of unregulated and potentially dangerous products being sold in convenience stores—often in packaging that appeals to children,” Salzman continued.
Michelle Salzman, however, said at same the time that Florida's agricultural community plays a "vital role" in the hemp industry, and emphasized it was "critical" for lawmakers to find a balance between public safety and protecting farmers.
In a letter to the House of Representatives, Danny Perez indicated that multiple bills would be filed during the legislative session on Hemp regulation. He also anticipated there would be a great deal of activity by advocates on both sides of the issue.
Perez specified the Combined Workgroup on Hemp would include members of the Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee and the Housing, Agricultural, and Tourism Subcommittee.
He added the workgroup will have 24 members, or 12 from each subcommittee. The members also will be chosen by the subcommittee’s chairs.
The workgroup will last for seven days starting on March 3.
"I’m honored to serve as the Manager of the new House Workgroup on Hemp, where I look forward to diving deeper into the issues, hearing from stakeholders, and working toward smart, effective policies," Salzman concluded.
The 2025 legislative session kicks off on March 2nd and goes till May 2
