Ivey signs a bill regulating the sale of hemp products
Hemp and marijuana both come from Cannabis sativa L.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday signed legislation putting new regulations on gummies, drinks and other products containing cannabinoids from hemp, a legal variety of the marijuana plant.
The law would allow gummies, drinks and other consumable products to continue to be sold, but limits the amount of psychoactive compounds in the products. It also puts restrictions on where the products can be sold.
The governor signed the legislation Wednesday, Ivey spokeswoman Gina Maiola said.
The bill drew opposition from both store owners — who said it would destroy their small businesses — and conservative groups who wanted the products banned. Both had urged Ivey to veto the legislation. The bill sponsor said the new law will put some controls on the substances.
“This legislation wasn’t easy — there were strong opinions on all sides. And, we had to navigate a lot of heated debate, but at the end of the day, it’s about putting guardrails in place to protect the health and well-being of our kids,” Republican Rep. Andy Whitt, the bill sponsor, said Wednesday.
The popularity of hemp-derived products, including delta-8 THC, has exploded in recent years. The 2018 federal Farm Bill created a legal loophole that says hemp products and the cannabinoids that could be made from them were classified as distinct from marijuana. That has allowed manufacturers to synthesize THC from hemp plants and sell it in products where marijuana isn’t legal.
The products have been sold in gas stations, specialty stores, vape shops and other places. Some states have moved to ban or heavily regulate the products.
Store owners had urged Ivey to veto the bill, saying it would cause their small businesses to close.
“This isn’t regulation, it’s eradication,” Jenni Otwell, founder of Magic City Organics, said last week. The store owners said the products provide a needed alternative to opioids and other medications for people struggling with sleep, anxiety or other issues.
The founder of Forging Progress PAC, a Birmingham-based group that organized a press conference on behalf of store owners, said the outcome was disappointing.
“It will shut down small businesses, eliminate jobs, and cut off access to hemp-based products that many people rely on for pain, anxiety, and other health needs,” Daniel Deriso said.
On the opposite side, the conservative Alabama Policy Institute had urged Ivey to veto or amend the bill, arguing it allowed the sale and use of THC for recreational purposes.
The new law will limit the amount of hemp-based tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, that can be in edible products to 10mg of THC per serving. The Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board would license and regulate retailers. Purchasers would have to be age 21 or older. Grocery stores could sell beverages containing THC, but the products would have to be kept off shelves, similar to how cigarettes are sold.
Smokable products will become illegal under the law.
Alabama has a medical marijuana program, but the products are not yet available to patients. The program has been stalled amid an ongoing legal dispute over the licenses.
‘Mission: Impossible’ composer Lalo Schifrin dies at 93
Argentine pianist and composer Lalo Schifrin, best known for his scores for Mission: Impossible and more than 200 other films and TV shows, including Bullitt, Mannix and Cool Hand Luke, has died.
Bill Moyers, the former White House press secretary turned acclaimed TV journalist, dead at 91
Bill Moyers, the former White House press secretary who became one of television's most honored journalists, has died at 91.
Obliterated? Damaged? Inoperable? What’s known about Iran’s nuclear facilities
Iran's nuclear program has been dealt a blow, here's an overview of the current state of its facilities.
Are you a military veteran who has been charged money to apply for VA benefits?
If you're a veteran who has been charged a fee to get help on your application for a VA disability rating or other benefits, NPR wants to hear from you!
As Anna Wintour shifts her focus, ‘Vogue’ is looking for a new U.S. editor
Vogue magazine in the U.S. will soon have a new editorial head. Anna Wintour announced that, after nearly 40 years in the position, she will be focus on her wider roles at Vogue and Condé Nast.
Asked to flag ‘negative’ National Park content, visitors gave their own 2 cents instead
Signs installed earlier in National Parks earlier in June asked for feedback on signs "that are negative about past or living Americans." Comments viewed by NPR didn't provide the requested feedback.
