Alabama’s Ban on Smokable Hemp Products Takes Effect July 1st
A new law in Alabama, House Bill 445 (HB445), is set to ban the sale of all smokable hemp products starting July 1st, a move that will significantly impact vape shops and CBD stores across the state. The ban targets items like hemp flower containing THC and CBD, which are commonly sold in these retail locations.
Retailers are bracing for a severe financial blow. Noah Waters, Brand Expansion Manager at Gallery Smoke in Pelham, stated that businesses will have to dispose of or remove large portions of their inventory. “It’s a decimation of revenue, of sales, of profit, of commerce. You’re really talking about 90 percent of income that is being taken away from these shops,” he explained. While edibles and infused products with dosage limitations will remain legal under the new framework, the prohibition on inhalable products removes a major product category.
A significant concern raised by retailers is the potential for the ban to inadvertently strengthen the illegal marijuana market. Waters recounted a customer who said they would have to “go back to the street” to find products, creating a black market. He argued that consumers prefer purchasing lab-tested, consistent products from trusted retailers, and taking that option away will push them toward unregulated and potentially unsafe sources.
Brian Kelly, owner of Gallery Smoke, echoed this, calling HB445 a “devastating blow” that will likely lead to job losses and store closures. He warned that demand won’t disappear but will instead shift underground, increasing risks for underage consumption and counterfeit products while eliminating tax revenue. Other provisions of the bill, including licensing requirements for edible hemp products and enforcement by the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, are scheduled to take effect in the new year.
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