New regulations could be on the way for THC in Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — Lawmakers are cracking down on THC in the state of Alabama. A bill passed in the House aims to put a limit on who can buy hemp drinks and CBD gummies.

According to Rep. Andy Whitt (R-Harvest), it’s about protecting children in the state of Alabama. Harvest said hemp drinks and other products can currently be found in convenience stores across the state. If Whitt’s bill is signed into law, they may be a little harder to find.

“We’re not making any claims that it’s curing or treating anything,” said Carmelo Parasiliti, owner of Green Acres Organic Pharms. “But our customers have given us countless testimonies on how it’s given them a better standard of life.”

Parasiliti said that better standard of life is because of his CBD products. He said new regulations on CBD gummies and lotions could be harmful for people who rely on the products.

“Medical cannabis has failed since 2021. No patients have been served. I’m not a doctor. You know, I’m not calling them my patients,” said Parasiliti. “But there’s people who are benefitting from this, and I think it’s a crime to hastily try to rush and take it away.”

Rep. Whitt explained his bill limits THC concentrations to five milligrams per serving for edibles and drinks.

“These are unregulated, unchecked, and dangerous products that are being sold to our children in our convenient stores and retailers across the state. And it’s time we put guardrails on this to protect our students,” he said.

Those guardrails would make it illegal for people under 21 to buy hemp products. Whitt said it would be regulated by the ABC board and tested by a third party to check THC levels. The bill also prohibits the sale of inhalable hemp products.

If you use CBD gummies to sleep, he said they will still be available.

“There will be an avenue for you to purchase that. It will just be in 21 and over stores,” explained Whitt. “And, it will be regulated, and it will be tested. That is for your benefit, and that is for your health. That way, you know exactly what you’re getting.”

Rep. Curtis Travis (D-Tuscaloosa) didn’t support the bill because of accessibility concerns.

“I want to be fair to our people and everything and make sure they have those available methods rather than other hard drugs, because pain management is for real,” he said.

Whitt said hemp drinks can even be bought on tap right now. At the end of the day, he said it’s all about safety.

“I find that’s extremely dangerous. Because, you don’t know how that affects the medicine- the medication- that you may be taking. Or, when does that bartender know you’ve had too much?” he said.

The bill now heads to the Senate for a committee vote. If it’s signed into law, the age restriction on hemp products would start on January 1st.