Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill authorizing the state ABC Board to tax, regulate and restrict the sales of consumable products containing marijuana THC, derived from hemp.
The move comes amid strong public pressure to veto the bill.
HB445’s sponsor, Rep. Andy Whitt (R – Harvest) said it will regulate products widely available in specialty shops, convenience stores and online.
Retailers will need to get a license from the ABC Board to sell products containing THC, with access limited to stores for people 21 and older. Grocery stores over a certain square footage will be able to sell seltzers, but those products will be kept behind the counter in the same manner as cigarettes.
Smokable and vaporized hemp products will be banned. Gummies and drinks are still legal, but they’re now capped at 10 milligrams for individual products and 40 milligrams per package.
It’s unclear if the bill would ban CBD products.
The Alabama Policy Institute said the bill effectively legalizes recreation marijuana, but the bill’s detractors say the bill will cost people their jobs and entire businesses and that the bill will make it harder for people with pain, anxiety or sleep troubles to have access to the products they need.
