A week-long inspection sweep by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) netted 68,689 packages of hemp extract products that illegally targeted children. The discovery, part of the state’s largest ever inspection sweep dubbed “Operation Kandy Krush,” involved more than 475 food establishments across 37 counties.

“We’ve uncovered nearly 70,000 hemp products – including euphoric, high-potency THC products – specifically designed to appeal to children, a blatant violation of Florida Law,” said Agriculture Commissioner Simpson. “After the Florida Legislature worked this year to reform Florida’s hemp laws, this operation now sends a clear message that illegal and unsafe hemp products have no place in our state, and we will continue diligently enforcing the law to keep our communities safe.”

The operation focused on the illicit sale of hemp extract products, which included high-potency THC products designed to appeal to children, in violation of Florida law. The revelation underscores the state’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety of consumers and protecting minors from these products.

Historically, a loophole in Florida’s hemp laws had allowed the unregulated sale of high-potency hemp products such as delta-8 to minors. But, in 2023, Simpson, in collaboration with State Senator Colleen Burton and State Representative Will Robinson Jr., spearheaded a reform of Florida’s hemp laws.

Senate Bill 1676, enacted during the legislative session, introduced age requirements for purchasing hemp products intended for human consumption. It also prohibited marketing that targets children and ensured that all products sold in Florida are packaged safely.

The new law also brought the sale of hemp products in line with the health and safety standards of other food products, defining products as “attractive to children” if they are shaped like humans, cartoons, or animals, resemble an existing candy product, or contain any color additives.