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VOL 24 No. 27
February 28, 2024
Hemp, CBD regulations to be revisited Hemp and CBD sales are prohibited in Anna Maria under an ordinance that is under review. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
Manatees beating odds
CINDY LANE | SUN
A manatee thrives in the relatively warm water at Silver Springs, Florida. The state’s manatee mortality rate decreased in 2023. See Page 3.
Vacation rental bills in jeopardy The Florida Legislature’s 60-day legislative session ends on Friday, March 8. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
TALLAHASSEE – Two vacation rental bills working their way through the Florida Legislature are not yet identical matching bills and time is running out for them to be made identical before the 60-day legislative session ends on Friday, March 8. For legislation to become state law, the House and Senate must approve identical matching bills to send to the governor to sign into law, approve without signing or veto. On Feb. 1, the Florida Senate approved Senate Bill 280 by a 27-13 final vote on the Senate floor. On Feb.
22, an amended version of House Bill 1537 successfully passed the House of Representatives Commerce Committee by a 13-5 margin, with Committee Chair Bob Rommel (R-Naples) among those opposing the amended bill. The amended House bill and the adopted Senate bill are not identical bills. With no more committee stops, the House bill could be further revised through internal negotiations before Speaker of the House Paul Renner (R-Palm Coast) decides whether the bill will be brought to the floor for a final vote. If the House adopts a bill that doesn’t identically match the Senate bill, both bills would be considered dead. When presenting his bill to the Commerce Committee, State Rep. Philip Griffitts (R-Panama City Beach)
SEE BILL, PAGE 18
SEE HEMP, PAGE 23
Feds issue approval for mangrove removal
A neighbor says while losing the battle to save the mangroves, the community has gained awareness. BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – Despite attempts by neighbors to put a stop to mangrove removal at a Gull Drive home under construction, the developer received final approval on Feb. 16 to remove mangroves and construct a seawall. With the consent of both the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), mangroves have been removed and construction of a 116-foot seawall began along the waterline at 111 Gull Drive beginning the week of Feb. 21.
TRY SCALLOPS, Sicilian-style. 19
“I have lost this battle and I accept that, but we haven’t lost the war; we’ve gained awareness of our environment. I’ve pulled the fire alarm on this,” said Ronnie Leto, an environmentalist and self-described whistleblower who lives across the canal from the Gull Drive property. “The sad part is, it’s not a homeowner doing this. It’s a developer doing this for profit.” The property is owned by Sharp Real Estate Development of Hingham, Mass. According to the Sharp Development website, “The private lot sits at the end of a cul-de-sac on a wide, open waterway” and has an expected list price of $6,195,000. The work there had been stalled since December when neighbors reported mangrove removal to the FDEP and the city of Anna Maria.
SEE MANGROVE, PAGE 11
THE FUTURE OF OYSTERS is bright
in Manatee County. 15
SANDWICH SIGNS reviewed in Anna
Maria. 8
Page 27 Anna Maria Island, Florida
ANNA MARIA – The mayor and city commission plan to review and potentially amend a city ordinance that prohibits the sale of hemp and CBD products. Hemp is a cannabis plant that contains 0.3% or less THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana that produces a “high.” CBD is a cannabis product that contains legallyallowed low levels of THC. Enacted in 2015, Section 34-2 of Anna Maria’s code of ordinances says, “The growing, processing, distributing and sale of marijuana within the city limits of Anna Maria is hereby prohibited. Marijuana shall be defined for purposes of this section to include all parts of any plant of the genus cannabis, whether
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