Now that
HB445 is in effect, Delta-9 THC products are
still legal in Alabama if they meet all of the
following conditions:
- Derived from hemp and contain no more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight
- Sold only in non-smokable forms such as gummies, tinctures, beverages, or topicals
- Each serving contains no more than 10mg of THC
- Each package contains no more than 40mg of THC
Products must:
- Be sold only to adults 21 or older
- Include third-party lab testing
- Be sold in child-resistant packaging
- Have clear labeling, including batch numbers and QR codes
- Must be sold through licensed retailers within Alabama
- Subject to a 10% excise tax
- Online sales, deliveries, and mail orders are prohibited
What’s Not Allowed?
The following types of Delta-9 THC products are now banned in Alabama, even if hemp-derived and within the 0.3% limit:
- Vapes
- Cartridges
- Smokable flower or pre-rolls
- Any inhalable product
Possessing or selling these smokable hemp products is now classified as a Class C felony in Alabama.
Additionally, hemp-derived Delta-9 THC products cannot be purchased online or delivered to consumers in the state. All sales must occur in person at a licensed retail location.
Is Marijuana-Derived Delta-9 Legal in Alabama?
No. Delta-9 THC derived from marijuana (cannabis plants with more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC) remains illegal for recreational use in Alabama. A medical cannabis program was signed into law in 2021, but it has not yet been implemented and currently offers no legal access to marijuana-derived Delta-9 products.
How Is Delta-9 Legal in Alabama?
Considering Alabama is one of the few remaining states that still prohibit marijuana (defined as products with over 0.3 percent THC), how is it that delta-9 is legal in the state?
It all started with the passage of the federal 2018 Farm Bill. This bill removed hemp and hemp derivatives like CBD, delta-9, delta-8, and others, from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This legislative upgrade established a foundation for the enjoyment of hemp products nationwide.
The
Farm Bill was also responsible for writing the legal definition of
hemp vs. marijuana. Although both plants are botanically cannabis, from a legal standpoint, hemp must contain less than 0.3% THC by dry weight. Marijuana is everything over this threshold. Although delta-9 is something historically associated with marijuana-type plants, hemp-derived delta-9 delivers
the same effects, just in a fully compliant format.
But on with Alabama's delta-9 story. With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, Alabama regulators were then tasked with tackling the state's hemp regulations to align with the new federal rules.
This meant state regulators opened the Code of Alabama for review. By 2019, they had established a new framework for hemp, and legislators passed SB 225. They descheduled hemp-derived THC and specifically modified AL Code 2-8-381 to establish a regulatory framework.
"The plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, cultivated or possessed by a licensed grower 9; otherwise in accordance with the state's USDA-approved regulatory plan, whether growing or not, with a delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis."
Can You Buy Delta-9 Products in Alabama?