Alabama Conservatives Back Ban on Intoxicating Hemp Products

Folks in the Yellowhammer State are cheering for a move in the Senate that aims to curb the sale of those intoxicating hemp goodies. Word is, conservatives are stoked about the potential end of "delta-8" and other similar products.

What's the Deal?

This provision is part of a Senate funding package that's also tied to ending the government shutdown. It's not a done deal yet; it still needs a thumbs-up from the House and a signature from the Prez. But the idea is to tighten up the definition of "hemp" to prevent anything other than naturally occurring derivatives with super-low THC levels (less than 0.3%) from slipping through the cracks.

Closing the "Hemp Loophole"

Think of it as closing the "hemp loophole" that the 2018 Farm Bill accidentally created. The proposed changes would count things like delta-8 and THCA toward the THC limit, and it also excludes anything that's synthesized or "manufactured" rather than coming straight from the plant. Plus, there's a cap on how much THC-like stuff can be in finished products, and a one-year grace period before the changes kick in.

Local Groups Weigh In

The Alabama Policy Institute said that Congress is finally putting an end to the "accidental" national legalization of THC that happened with the 2018 Farm Bill. They called it a "horrible" example of federal public policy that put a burden on state law enforcement.

The Eagle Forum of Alabama also celebrated the Senate's actions, saying it shuts down the loophole that allows "chemically altered intoxicants" to be sold like candy. They've been pushing for similar changes at the state level, too.

A Win for Alabama?

Becky Gerritson, Executive Director of Eagle Forum of Alabama, called the Senate's actions "an enormous win for public health and for the safety of our children," adding, "For too long, these dangerous products have sat openly on store shelves targeting teens, harming kids, and blindsiding parents."