New hemp bill aims to limit cannabinoids to pharmacies, set new restrictions

OG article by Austin Pratt

January 2, 2026

Senate Bill 1 in Alabama proposes stricter regulations on hemp and cannabinoid products, restricting sales of certain psychoactive cannabinoids to licensed pharmacies only. This builds on 2025's House Bill 445, which imposed manufacturing, distribution, and sales rules but faced criticism for effectively banning many consumable hemp items. Sponsor Sen. April Weaver aims for tight controls to limit access.

Marty Schelper, president of the Alabama Cannabis Coalition, explained that the bill targets availability in pharmacies, linking it to the state's stalled medical cannabis program—approved in 2021 but still unimplemented nearly five years later, leaving patients without legal access. Schelper voiced concerns that added restrictions could hinder consumers and complicate patient needs.

The legislation is set for committee review soon, with potential amendments that could reshape the hemp, CBD, and related product markets in Alabama for years. Proponents see it as necessary oversight, while critics argue it overly burdens an industry providing alternatives amid delays in medical cannabis rollout. This reflects ongoing debates in conservative states balancing federal hemp legality under the 2018 Farm Bill with local concerns over psychoactive compounds like delta-8 THC.