Is CBD Legal in Alabama? [Legality, Usage & Where To Buy From]

Is CBD Legal in Alabama? [Legality, Usage & Where To Buy From]

Posted by Christian on 26th Apr 2023

Advanced technology has led to the rise of different plants becoming effective in curing diseases of patients. Hemp, the source of CBD, is one of the plants proven to have multiple health benefits, but its purchase and possession are limited because it is prone to substance abuse. But is CBD legal in Alabama?

Read on to find out more about the legal status of CBD in Alabama with possession limits and where to buy the best products from.

What is CBD?


What is CBD?

CBD, also known as Cannabidiol, can be found on all cannabis plants and is considered a non-intoxicating compound. This second most abundant cannabinoid has different health benefits. Some of these benefits include anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-anxiety, and seizure-suppressant properties.

Both marijuana and hemp plants include CBD, but the latter has a higher concentration of the compound. Thus, making it the best source for CBD. People sometimes use the term hemp oil synonymously with CBD oil.

With the relaxation of laws by most states, the availability of CBD products has become more apparent. You may now see pharmacies and shops selling CBD-infused gummies, oils, joints, cigarettes, and vape juice. There is also CBD for pets for their needs.

Why is CBD still illegal in some parts?


Why is CBD still illegal in some parts?

Industrial hemp, the source of CBD, does not produce a high concentration of THC or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. THC is a cannabinoid molecule found in the marijuana plant, and it has proven to give psychoactive ingredients. THC is the substance present in marijuana that makes people “high.”

Despite the small concentration, hemp still has THC. Hemp-based CBD products are only legalized in Alabama up to a federal level. Before the 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law, marijuana and hemp had been categorized under the Schedule I narcotics list under the 1970 Federal Controlled Substances Act.

Schedule I drugs are defined under the said law as substances that are prone to abuse, have no proven medical treatment in the USA, and have no guaranteed safety. All compounds products by marijuana and hemp were considered illegal substances despite their health benefits and did not cause intoxication.

Is CBD Legal in Alabama?


Is CBD Legal in Alabama?

Now that CBD is legal in different states in America, each of them has to set down laws regarding its legality. While other states have legalized CBD, you can only own CBD in Alabama if you’re experiencing a debilitating seizure disorder. This can be traced back to the first few laws related to CBD use in the said state.

What is the CBD law in Alabama? Before we explain it, it is essential to know how these CBD laws evolved through time.

In 2014, Former Alabama Governor Robert Bentley signed Carly’s Law or Senate Bill 174. This law restricts the use of CBD products for patients with debilitating epilepsy and seizures under certain conditions. Patients can use CBD products once they acquire a prescription from the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Leni’s Law was passed in 2016. The name came after Leni Young, a patient who successfully treated her seizures through CBD products. This law expanded the definition of the conditions that qualify as seizure-inducing and debilitating conditions. With the broader definition of seizure-inducing conditions, patients can use CBD as a special treatment.

The 2016 Alabama Industrial Hemp Research Program Act tasked the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) to conduct a licensing and inspection program for industrial hemp protection.

However, in 2018, the US Congress decided to legalize marijuana or cannabis through the Farm Bill. The bill specified the difference between hemp and marijuana, whereby the former is defined as cannabis with an acceptable amount of 0.30% THC concentration. CBD products deriving from hemp plants have eventually been removed from the Schedule I drug category.

Republican Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall affirmed the legality of CBD products of licensed companies or vendors. However, he informed his constituents to remain cautious in purchasing CBD products as Alabama has yet to draft regulations in the market of CBD products.

The 2018 Farm Bill gave the Food and Drug Administration the power to regulate the circulation of CBD products in the market. Despite the FDA’s close monitoring, licensed vendors and companies cannot state that CBD products are dietary supplements or claim their health benefits.

Republican Governor Kay Ivey signed SB 225 in July 2019. It redefined and rescheduled CBD to align it with the federal definitions and finally allowed Alabama to sell CBD products. Physical stores and online stores in Alabama selling CBD products have been finally legalized under this law.

Is CBD legal in Alabama 2021? The short answer is yes, as these laws are still being implemented. Now the companies selling CBD products are on the rise, they have to undergo some testing and licensing requirements to be verified and legal.

Licensing and Testing Requirements 


For a company to be licensed to sell CBD products, the Alabama Industrial Hemp Research Program requires applicants to pay a fee of $200. Upon getting a license, they shall pay a participation fee of $1000.

Aside from the licensing requirement, companies selling CBD products are mandated by the ADAI to submit third-party lab results regularly, as well as payment of testing fees. The CBD products they sell in the market must contain less than 0.30% THC concentration.

Penalties


If you don’t have any medical condition to possess CBD, you may be prosecuted similar to marijuana possession in Alabama. Marijuana and hemp are difficult to distinguish from each other if they are not tested to read their THC levels.

Should you be accused of illegal possession of CBD in Alabama, the possible charges and imposed are:

  • Charged with Class A Misdemeanor;

  • Imprisonment up to one year; and

  • Fines up to $6,000


If you have an intent to distribute or sell CBD while illegally possessing them, the charges imposed will increase.

What is the CBD Possession Limit in Alabama?


What is the CBD Possession Limit in Alabama?

As mentioned earlier, CBD possession in Alabama is legal. There are no possession limits on CBD products in this state, provided that the product has no more than 0.30% THC concentration. Exceeding that concentration level is already a misdemeanor offense.

No law in Alabama allows the home cultivation of hemp. Should you wish to possess or cultivate hemp, you need to procure a license and undergo testing requirements from the ADAI.

Where To Buy The Best CBD Products In Alabama?


Where To Buy The Best CBD Products In Alabama?

If you’re interested in buying CBD in Alabama, good news! You can buy CBD in Alabama everywhere - from online stores to pharmacies or brick-and-mortar stores. Physical stores in Alabama came to fruition when SB 225 was signed back in 2019.

There are several CBD stores in several cities in Alabama, like CBDGenesis, Birmingham, Orange Beach, Hampton Cove, Trussville, etc. However, most say that they prefer buying CBD through online retailers as it is more convenient and gives them access to a wide variety of CBD products.

You need to find a reputable and trustworthy online seller and compare the prices between stores so you can get a better deal on each product.

Here are some CBD products to help you get started:

CBD Cigarette


CBD cigarettes look similar to regular tobacco cigarettes, but they are not made from tobacco or marijuana. They are made from industrial hemp with a low THC concentration.

CBD cigarettes are perfect for those who want to smoke and improve their health at the same time. CBD cigarettes are also a good way to quit smoking tobacco cigarettes because they are free from harmful additives like nicotine.

CBD Vape Juice


CBD vape juice is a formulated oil or liquid that is used in vapes or e-cigarettes. It comes in three forms: full-spectrum CBD, which contains all cannabinoids present in the hemp plant and has 0.30% THC; broad-spectrum CBD, which includes hemp-based cannabinoids and flavonoids but no THC and; CBD isolate, which contains only CBD and it is the purest form of CBD.

CBD Vape Juice

Naked CBD vape juice is safe, despite little information on the methods of manufacturing the juice. If you already have a vape with you, try buying a few cartridges, such as the Naturally Peaked CBD Vape Cartridge.

CBD Infused Gummies


CBD-infused gummies are one of the most common CBD products out there. They are gummy candies infused with cannabinoid oil, and this product is the most discreet and convenient way to consume CBD.

CBD Infused Gummies

CBD-infused gummies have many benefits, such as better sleep, lessened anxiety and depression, and pain relief. Some of the bestselling CBD gummies include Koi CBD – Delta-8 THC Gummies and CBD Farmhouse – Delta-8 THC Gummies.

CBD Oil


CBD Oil is also another common CBD product bought in stores. It is oil infused with CBD using a carrier oil or alcohol under light heating. CBD and THC present in CBD oils are soluble in fats, and the most preferred oils used in making CBD oil are coconut and olive oil.

CBD oil has also proven to give health benefits. It relieves pain, nausea, and vomiting, reduces inflammation, improves heart health, increases focus, and many more.

CBD Flower


We always see CBD flowers everywhere, but what does it do? CBD flower is the dried flower bud of the hemp plant. It has a very low THC concentration, and it is considered one of the cleanest and most efficient ways to enjoy CBD.

CBD Flower

CBD flower isn’t intoxicating -- instead, using one can soothe or relax you. CBD flower is good for people who experience stress, anxiety, depression, and other similar conditions. Canna Bloom Farmacy’s CBD Flower comes in at 3.5 grams if you want to try it out for yourself.

Takeaway


Alabama has relaxed its law on CBD possession, but be cautious in buying online or in stores. Make sure they are trustworthy, reliable, and licensed by the ADAI.

To feel the potent effects of CBD products, CBD Genesis is your one-stop shop for these products. All of our products are third-party lab-tested, and these pass our high-quality standards for you.

Feel free to check us out to see our wide variety of CBD products!