HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — A law placing new regulations on hemp products takes effect on July 1 in Alabama. While lawmakers say it is meant to regulate the industry, some people say it could destroy it.
Governor Kay Ivey signed HB 445 into law back in May. One stipulation of the law includes banning the sale and possession of smokable hemp products, like THC vapes/cigarettes and hemp flower.
Starting July 1, the sale and possession of these products will become illegal and punishable as a Class C Felony.
News 19 stopped by The Green Lady in Huntsville, as it prepared for the July 1 deadline.
Owner Jason Pauls told News 19 that they’ve been doing their best to get rid of the products that will soon become illegal.
“We’ve marked down all of our smokables and they’re moving fast,” Pauls said. “We’re just trying to get the products out and cleared before they become a felony.”
Pauls opened The Green Lady about seven years ago, and said he’s worked hard to build his business and grow with the industry since then. However, his business will need to adapt to the new law quickly.
“It’s mind-boggling to me that we can go 20 years behind with a stroke of a pen,” he said.
Pauls told News 19 that what really matters to him is his customers. He said people from every demographic shop at The Green Lady, including veterans and the elderly. He said a lot of people use his products as a “natural pain reliever.”
He said not being able to sell the same products to those people weighs on him.
“When it… when reality sets in and you realize that you’re not going to be able to give those customers what they need to get through their day, that’s what hurts,” Pauls said.
The Alabama Legislature passed HB 445, citing a need for better regulations in the hemp industry in Alabama.
Pauls said he doesn’t dispute the need for regulations.
“I agree 100% that something needs to be done, we need some sort of regulation,” he said.
However, he doesn’t think the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board should be the governing body, saying, “I think it needs to be governed, but it needs to be governed by the right group.”
Pauls said he wishes the State had consulted people in the hemp industry before passing HB 445.
However, with the start of enforcement on July 1st coming up quickly, The Green Lady is doing what it needs to be compliant.
“We’re going to take a week off as of tomorrow, do inventory, kind of regroup and come back at it from there,” he said.
The store will re-open on July 7.
On Jan. 1, 2026, the second part of the new law goes into effect. News 19 spoke with the Green Lady about those impacts earlier this year.
Attempt to delay enforcement
As The Green Lady and other businesses work to get in compliance ahead of the start of enforcement, four businesses filed a lawsuit in an attempt to delay the process.
The lawsuit seeks an emergency temporary restraining order to prevent the enforcement of the law. However, a circuit court judge denied this motion on Monday.
The Alabama Cannabis Coalition sent News 19 a statement in response to this ruling:
“HB445 is Unconstitutional. The ACC supports the various parties who plan additional lawsuits in order to properly posture an appeal. It is very unfortunate that the Circuit Court Judge could not see the unconstitutionality and the irreparable harm it will cause. We are praying for all Alabamians. Our citizens deserve a clear separation of civil right minimums from political agendas, whether rooted in a financial or religious-preference perspective. Hemp is Constitutional per the Hemp Act and SB225. A political set aside Bill should be introduced, personal interests open for investigation and in the mean time HB445 should snake up on appeal with hopefully the proper arguments and standing. Not only do businesses need to sue, but individuals have rights which are circumvented. History will expose how imprudent this temporary ‘rule of man over law’ actually is as other states continue to thrive from the Hemp industry.”
Trenton Rogers Garmon, Political Director, Alabama Cannabis Coalition
You can read HB445 by clicking here.
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