New regulations for hemp businesses could soon happen across Alabama if bill becomes law

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — A new bill that would crack down on hemp and THC-products sold across Alabama could soon become law.

HB445, sponsored by Rep. Andy Whitt, recently passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate and now awaits Gov. Kay Ivey’s signature. Specifically, the bill calls for the regulation of the sale and distribution of hemp products, including drinks and gummies, sold in businesses, keep them out of those younger than 21, as well as place a 10% tax and limit them to establishments licensed by the Alcoholic Beverage and Control Board.

In addition, serving sizes would be limited to 10 milligrams of THC, all regulated by the ABC Board.

Whitt, R-Harvest, said hemp gummies and snacks can be found in some convenient stores around the state.

“Nachos. THC-flavored nachos,” Whitt said. “It’s just unreal what I’ve seen out there in the product.”

Whitt claims convenient stores are marketing gummies and snacks to children, all with “dangerous THC levels.”

“Do you think the students in our high schools are going around and reading the back of those packages, and saying, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, a dose of this is 1/16 of this gummy?’ That’s just not happening,” he said

However, some business owners are calling these regulations a burden. Carmelo Parasiliti, owner of Green Acres Organic Pharms in Florence, said the bill would eliminate almost all of the products they offer.

“It puts honest, community-focused business at risk,” Parasiliti said. “And, we’ve done everything right. We’ve followed the rules. We’ve tested every product. We’ve created our Compassion Cancer Program.”

That program, as Parasiliti explains, provides products to cancer patients free of charge. He said that would go away with new taxes levied under the bill.

Parasiliti is urging Ivey to veto the bill. As of Tuesday, a petition on Change.org has received nearly 1,300 signatures requesting Ivey kill the bill.

“Last week was small business awareness week,” he said. “We’re a small business. And this- you’ll have a way to save our business by vetoing this. So, please do.”

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin has also taken issue with the bill, claiming it would do more harm than good to local businesses.

“This bill doesn’t protect our communities — it destroys jobs, shuts down local businesses, and hands the industry to big corporations,” Woodfin said in a statement Monday.

If HB445 is signed into law, THC products could be sold in designated areas at grocery stores, as well as shops serving customers 21 years old and older.

Whitt said the bill isn’t a complete ban on the product, but that some will need to change their business model.

“Your convenient store, local convenient store, is not a pharmacy. It should not be viewed as one,” he said. “So they should be selling gas and snacks, not drugs to our kids.”

While those in Ivey’s office said the bill is still under review, it could automatically become law if she doesn’t take action on it by the end of the day Wednesday.