Alabama hemp businesses bracing for impact with crackdown weeks away

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — Hemp companies in Alabama said they are working hard to abide by new state regulations.

Those regulations will take effect in the form of a new law July 1. Hemp companies said it will kill small businesses, while the sponsor said it’s long overdue.

“They’re kind of pulling the rug out from under us and going backwards in the industry,” said Blake Gamberi, owner of Dry Creek Wellness in Glencoe.

“I’m sorry to those folks who it’s going to be negatively affecting for sure,” said Carmelo Parasiliti, owner of Green Acres Organic Pharms in Florence.

The crackdown caps THC levels to 10 milligrams per serving in a product and bans it for people under 21. The original bill sponsor, state Rep. Andy Whitt, R-Harvest, said gas stations have become pharmacies for some people.

“Anytime that you have to reach between the motor oil and the beef jerky to get a product that you’re going to smoke and/or take to medicate or get high, that is not good for the state of Alabama,” Whitt said.

Gamberi said the new law is confusing, but they are working to get their products in compliance.

“We got high hopes that they’ll get everything in line and make it where we don’t have to close our doors …,” Gamberi said. “It’s a very short time period to adjust something that you’ve done over four or five years, even longer than that.”

Parasiliti said they are keeping their doors open but moving some of their business to other states.

“It’s a lot of work ahead of us, but we’re going to keep going and keep trying,” Parasiliti said.

David Beck, owner of The Humble Hemp Shack in Gadsden, said it will probably have to close down altogether.

“It’s a very scary feeling, and a scary feeling for our customers as well,” Beck said.

Whitt said those customers will now be able to get a product that is safely tested by a third party. He said the law does not legalize marijuana but does not ban hemp products.

“It was time to get these products under control for the safety of our citizens and the safety of our kids and get a handle on it,” Whitt said. “It lets there be an authority that can actually oversee this product.”

Whitt said that authority, the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, will soon release guidelines for businesses on how it will enforce the law. Products outlined in the law will be banned July 1.

Whitt said businesses will be able to start the licensing process to sell hemp products with the ABC Board in January.