Alabama Bill Aimed At Regulating Consumable Hemp Products Draws Fiery Testimony From Supporters And Opponents

“Convenience stores need to stick to selling gas and sodas, and they are not our local pharmacy stores. We’re going to regulate these products.”

By Alander Rocha, Alabama Reflector

An Alabama House committee Wednesday heard from supporters and opponents of legislation aimed at regulating consumable hemp products.

HB 445, sponsored by Rep. Andy Whitt (R-Harvest) would require the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board to license and regulate manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers of hemp products.

“We are coming for the bad actors that put profit [over] the safety of our children. Convenience stores need to stick to selling gas and sodas, and they are not our local pharmacy stores. We’re going to regulate these products,” said Whitt during a meeting of the House Health committee, while describing the current market as “unregulated, unchecked and dangerous.”

The bill includes a ban on sales to anyone under 21, restricts retail locations to existing liquor stores or standalone shops inaccessible to minors and mandates product testing and labeling. It would also limit THC content to five milligrams per serving for edibles and beverages and impose an excise tax.

A similar bill sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson (R-Florence) failed in the Senate Health Care Committee in late March. While both bills would regulate hemp products through the ABC board and ban sales to minors, Whitt’s bill imposes higher penalties for underage sales. The Senate version also differentiated between beverages and other consumable products, while Whitt’s bill defines all products as “consumable hemp products.”

Whitt said the bill aimed to place “guardrails” on the industry, pointing to concerns about public health and youth safety. During his presentation to the committee, Whitt displayed several products purchased locally, including gummies and drinks, which he claimed were equal to 80-proof vodka, arguing they are marketed attractively, sometimes toward children.

“This is bad stuff, and it’s being sold to our kids,” he stated.

Carmelo Parasiliti, founder and CEO of Green Acres Organic Pharms in Florence and an opponent of the legislation, said that the “data simply does not support the hysteria.” Parasiliti said that the Alabama Poison Information Center reported 235 cases related to delta-8 THC, a form of cannabinoid, in 2023 and that these cases represent just 0.018 percent of Alabama residents under 21.

“Most importantly, no deaths have occurred. Cannabinoids like delta-8, CBD and CBG are nonlethal, nonaddictive and federally legal,” Parasiliti said.

Support for the bill came from law enforcement. Lt. Chuck Bradford of the Trussville Police Department claimed there is a rise in overdoses linked to vape store products. He also claimed that testing of purchased products showed THC levels far exceeding the legal hemp limit of 0.3 percent, but did not point to data.

“Basically, we’re allowing people to sell marijuana,” he said.

Molly Cole, a lobbyist for the Alabama Hemp and Vape Association, argued against what she termed “rush legislation,” claiming it could “eliminate over 10,000 jobs in Alabama.” She asked for a study commission to develop an “evidence-based policy.”

“Instead of rushing HB 445, I urge you to support a study commission. Bring together legislators, regulatory regulators, industry leaders and public health experts to craft long-term, evidence-based policy. Other states have done this successfully. Now Alabama can too,” Cole said.

Becky Gerritson from Eagle Forum of Alabama, a conservative lobbying group, said she supported the bill’s intent but argued it didn’t go far enough, stating it effectively legalizes recreational marijuana by allowing psychoactive cannabinoids. “These products need to be banned,” she urged.

The committee did not take a vote after the public hearing.

This story was first published by Alabama Reflector.

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Photo courtesy of Kimzy Nanney.