MADISON, Ala. (WHNT) — It has been one week since a new law went into effect in Alabama, rapidly changing regulations in the hemp industry.
On July 1, a new state law took effect, putting new regulations on THC products derived from hemp. This came just two months after it was signed by Governor Kay Ivey, and some store owners tell News 19 that it has thrown their business model for a loop.
Juliana Bowers owns a CBD American Shaman of Madison, a CBD store that used to also sell THC and Delta 8 products. She has recently gone viral on TikTok by sharing her journey adapting to the new hemp regulations in the state.
She told News 19 that one of her videos got more than 30,000 views in less than 24 hours and gained her more than 1,000 new followers.
Like many other store owners, she’s had to swap out what’s on her shelves.
“With the new regulations, it’s just restricted it down to where we won’t have much of a variety to sell,” she said.
Bowers said that on June 30th, the final day of selling the now-banned products, the store made more than $20,000 in sales. She said she estimates that the new regulations will cost her business $600,000 to $700,000 in lost revenue each year.
“We are still going to stay around for as long as we can,” she said.
Bowers said TikTok has given her a platform to inform people both in the state of Alabama and all over the country about the new regulations. Including the possession and sale of the now-illegal products becoming punishable as a Class C Felony.
She said the TikTok videos have even sparked discussion in the comments.
“A lot of people in the comments were just really upset because they feel like it is a step way backwards in the wrong direction.”
Bowers said the majority of her customers are 55 and older.
“These people, for the most part, are not coming in to get high,” she said. “They are truly just trying to get help, and they have found a lot of relief with these products.”
Bowers said she thinks lawmakers got it wrong.
“If they really knew who was walking in the doors and finding relief with these products, they may reconsider about how restrictive the law is,” Bowers said
While new regulations have changed some of what’s on the shelves, Bowers said her CBD products are still available.
“Our door is always open,” she said.
Her store is located near Clift Farms in Madison.
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