Commissioner Wilton Simpson Announces Over 186,000 Packages of Hemp Products Targeting Children Uncovered During Inspection

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced that Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) inspectors uncovered over 186,000 packages of hemp products that were designed to target children, in violation of s. 581.217(7)(e), F.S., at High Roller Private Label LLC in Hollywood, Florida. To prevent any potential harm to consumers, FDACS inspectors issued stop-sale orders for 186,377 packages of hemp products - many of which were euphoric, high-potency products - and 644 packages containing synthetic cannabinoids, specifically "THC-O" and "HHCO."

"The discovery of over 186,000 packages of hemp products targeting children serves as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting the safety and well-being of our communities - especially from euphoric, high-potency hemp products that can pose serious health risks when ingested by children," said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. "As we continue to navigate the evolving landscape of hemp and cannabinoid products, we remain steadfast in our mission to uphold the highest standards of safety and accountability. This enforcement action is a testament to that commitment, and we will not hesitate to take further measures as necessary to ensure the well-being of all Floridians."

Since July 2023, FDACS inspectors have issued stop-sale orders for over 631,000 hemp products designed to target children and more than 420,000 packages containing illegal synthetic cannabinoids.

During the 2023 legislative session, Commissioner Wilton Simpson worked with the Florida Legislature to reform Florida's food laws to better protect consumers and children. SB 1676 added age requirements for the purchase of hemp products intended for human consumption, protected Florida's minors by prohibiting marketing and packaging that targets children, protected consumers by mandating that products sold in Florida be packaged in a safe container, and holds hemp products that are ingested to the same health and safety standards as other food products.

To enforce these law changes, the department conducted the largest ever inspection sweep of businesses selling hemp products in the summer of 2023. The sweep included inspections of more than 700 businesses in all 67 Florida counties and uncovered over 83,000 packages of hemp products, including euphoric, high-potency THC products, targeting children.

For more information about Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FDACS.gov.

###

Press Releases

• 2024 Press Releases
• 2023 Press Releases

Media Inquiries