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Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
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. Alabama nonprofit art studio that celebrates the autism community hit by Trump cuts to NEA 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 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.' 3 Big Lots stores reopening in Alabama after emerging from bankruptcy 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
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. Dothan man accused of sending 'suspicious' letters with child porn to Alabama governor 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
