Yes! CBD oil is legal to grow, purchase, and sell in Alabama. As long as the CBD is derived from legally harvested hemp containing no more than 0.3% THC, it is legal.
Alabama didn’t get to where they are now in the snap of a finger—it’s been years of various individuals, bills, and laws that have paved the way to hemp legalization in the state. So keep reading, as we dive into all the key components behind the question, is CBD oil legal in Alabama?
Alabama’s Hemp Journey
Alabama’s path to hemp legalization is one filled with progress but also carries its fair share of complexities.
2014 - SB 174/Carly’s Law
In 2014, Carly’s Law permitted the University of Alabama at Birmingham to conduct a clinical study that administered CBD oil to children suffering from a certain medical condition. The bill was named after Carly Chandler, a three-year-old who had a rare genetic disorder. Carly’s Law provided a glimmer of hope and a sign that hemp was making its way into Alabama.
2016 - HB 61/Leni’s Law
In 2016, the Alabama legislature passed Leni’s Law. Considered an expansion of Carly’s Law, Leni’s Law provided an affirmative defense for people who suffer from certain medical conditions to use CBD oil. It was signed into law by Governor Bentley.
To become a patient under this law, an individual must receive a diagnosis for a serious condition from a physician with whom the patient has a “bonafide doctor-patient relationship.” The CBD product must also have been tested by a third-party lab. This law also offered affirmative protection for caregivers and parents of these patients.
Leni’s Law was named after Leni Young, a young Alabama girl who suffered from multiple disorders and went to Oregon to acquire CBD oil, as it was not legal in Alabama.
August 2016 - Alabama Industrial Hemp Research Program Act
The Alabama Hemp Law authorized the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) to administer an industrial hemp research program. This program allowed the ADAI or an institution of higher learning to apply for permits/waivers to grow industrial hemp for research purposes.
The program aimed to develop critical research data on industrial hemp production. Though selling hemp products to the public was not legal, the research program was still a beacon of hope for the commercialization of CBD.
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2018 Farm Bill
In December 2018, President Donald Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill—a federal law that officially removed hemp as a controlled substance. The legislation defined industrial hemp as all parts of the hemp plant containing less than 0.3% THC, including cannabinoids (most notably CBD), derivatives, and extracts.
Though the bill created wider access to industrial hemp and allowed financial institutions to securely conduct business with hemp companies, this didn’t necessarily mean everyone in the country was free to grow, sell, and purchase hemp—states could still pass their own regulations. So how did Alabama take this?
2019 - Alabama Industrial Hemp Program
Alabama jumped on board with the Farm Bill. The state launched the Alabama Hemp Program in early 2019. This opened up the opportunity for farmers and processors/handlers to apply for hemp licenses, so they may cultivate their own hemp plants. The first industrial hemp fields were planted in the state in mid-May.
Steven Marshall, Alabama Attorney General, stated that CBD derived from industrial hemp with a THC concentration below 0.3% can be legally “produced, sold, and possessed” in the state of Alabama.
June 2019 - SB 225
On June 10, 2019, Governor Kay Ivey signed SB 225, officially making CBD products legal as long as the THC content is less than 0.3%. This ultimately removed grey areas on the legality of hemp in the state, which had caused CBD shops to be temporarily shut down in the past.
Where Can I Purchase CBD Oil in Alabama?
Since the Alabama Hemp Program and SB 225, numerous CBD oils have popped up in stores, gas stations, and online. And depending on the store or brand, you may be even able to find variations of CBD oil/products such as CBD gummies, skin creams, and lip balms.
As the CBD market has been rapidly growing, it’s important to stay mindful of where you buy your products. It’s never safe to assume that all CBD is equal across the board. Not to mention laws are always changing. So it’s essential to remain vigilant and up-to-date on news—this can mean the difference in breaking or abiding by the law in your state.
Find Quality and Legal CBD Products
If you’re interested in CBD products, it’s crucial that you stay centered on research, and mindful of where you buy them from. Here at Hemplucid, we are dedicated to providing consumers with high-quality CBD products that carry a full range of cannabinoids, terpenes, and trace amounts of THC below the federal legal limit of 0.3%. So be sure to start or refine your CBD journey by learning and checking out our products today. Each of our products comes with a lot code, which you can use to look up test results and quality control finished product specification sheets.
