Alabama’s Senate Approves Strict Ban on Smokable Hemp and CBD Products
In a significant legislative move, the Alabama Senate has approved House Bill 445, imposing sweeping restrictions on hemp and CBD products in the state. The bill, crafted behind closed doors, is now on Governor Kay Ivey’s desk awaiting her signature.
One of the bill’s most notable features is the outright ban on smokable hemp products, including flower buds and vapes. Additionally, psychoactive substances such as Delta-8 will be prohibited. The legislation also eliminates options for online sales, direct delivery, and drive-through transactions, aiming to tighten regulations on these products.
The new law does not stop at bans; it imposes strict limitations on the THC content of consumable CBD products. Edibles must be individually wrapped, with a maximum of 10 mg of THC per serving and 40 mg per package. Hemp-infused beverages will be restricted to 12-ounce containers, with a maximum of four per carton.
Furthermore, only adults aged 21 and over will be permitted to buy these products, which will be exclusively available in liquor stores or specialized CBD shops—banning sales in convenience and grocery stores. A 10-cent excise tax will also be imposed on hemp products, increasing consumer costs while generating revenue for the state.
The bill also mandates licensing requirements for retailers, childproof packaging, and stringent marketing regulations to prevent appealing to children. Critics, including industry representatives like Molly Cole from the Alabama Hemp and Vape Association, warn that these measures could devastate the hemp industry in Alabama. Cole remarked that the legislative compromises would effectively constitute a “backhanded prohibition bill” that threatens to eliminate a burgeoning market.
As the state prepares for these changes, the future of the hemp and CBD industry in Alabama hangs in the balance.
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