An Alabama House committee Tuesday approved a bill that would impose new regulations on consumable hemp products amid concerns over youth access and a lack of oversight of the products.
HB 445, sponsored by Rep. Andy Whitt, R-Harvest, would give the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board authority to license and regulate the manufacturing, distribution and retail sale of hemp-derived consumables and banning their sale to anyone under 21.
Whitt said that there were "recent developments" that made the bill more urgent and read a press release from Herbal Oasis, a company that produces hemp-derived products that planned to expand to Alabama, saying "their product will be in convenience stores, grocery stores and other locations throughout Alabama and Florida Panhandle, starting in late March."
"This is exactly what we discussed last week that we were trying to do, was stop this product being served in such a manner," Whitt said.
Read more at Alabama Reflector