The Legality of Hemp Flower in Alabama

In the distant past, hemp farming in the state of Alabama was legal until hemp was classified as an illegal substance in 1937. In the early 1900s, hemp was a crucial cash crop because of its multiple uses. Hemp was used in the food, textile and health and wellness industries, making it one of the most farmed crops.

After hemp farming was banned, farmers were forced to adapt and learn to grow different crops. However, hemp farming in the U.S. is now legal again after the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill Act. Now, anyone who wants to grow hemp flowers in Alabama or process its products is free to do so without fear of breaking any laws.

Before the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill Act, hemp farming was highly regulated in Alabama. It was only grown for medicinal purposes after the necessary permits were issued. Today, several licenses legalizing hemp production have now been issued in Alabama. Let us look at the legality of hemp in Alabama and where you can legally buy hemp products.

Is hemp farming and use legal in Alabama?

Alabama fully honors the 2018 Farm Bill Act, allowing farmers to grow and process hemp. In 2019, hemp was legally grown in Alabama for the first time after several decades. The bill not only allows educational institutions to produce hemp for research studies but also allows farmers to produce and sell hemp. The bill also removed hemp from the products that had been previously classified as illegal.

On top of that, the bill opened a window for the U.S. to come up with their own hemp program. Alabama is among the states that have created an official hemp program, in their case facilitated by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI). Anyone intending to farm hemp flower in Alabama has to apply to ADAI for the necessary permits and licenses.

Alabama Hemp Laws

Before you are allowed to legally grow hemp in Alabama, you must fill out the required paperwork and be subjected to a background check, which you must pass before a license is awarded to you. Every applicant is required to pay an application fee of $200, and if the application has been approved, you will have to pay $1,000 for every growing area. All growers are also required to provide GPS coordinates for all of the growing areas they have.

You can only farm hemp if a license has been issued to you. If you are using pesticides on your hemp farm, they must be approved by ADAI. After your crop is ready, Alabama requires you to conduct an analysis of the THC levels in the product. For your hemp to be classified legal, the THC content must not surpass 0.3 percent. Your product is no longer considered legal if the THC content is past 0.3 percent.

Is hemp selling legal in Alabama?

While you have to obtain a license from ADAI to grow hemp in Alabama, you do not need one to sell hemp. Currently, there are no licensing requirements for selling hemp in Alabama. As long as your hemp or CBD flower is legal and contains a THC content of less than 0.3 percent, you can freely sell your hemp produce or products all over Alabama.

You will be committing a felony if you are found selling hemp with a THC content exceeding the legal limit. If you are found guilty of such an offense, you can face prison time of up to 20 years or pay fines up to $30,000. The sentence becomes even worse if you are caught selling these products to a minor. You can face up to a life prison sentence if you are convicted for such an offense.

Is smoking hemp flower legal in Alabama?

At the moment, there are no laws that control the possession of hemp or its products in Alabama as long as these products meet the legal threshold in terms of the THC content. You can be fined $6,000 or face a prison sentence of one year if you are found in possession of hemp or CBD products having a THC content greater than 0.3 percent.

Can I grow hemp at home in Alabama?

It is illegal to cultivate hemp in your back yard or home unless you possess a valid license and approval issued by ADAI. Although hemp farming is legal in Alabama, still you must apply for licenses to be allowed to produce it. Plus, it is also illegal to process hemp or its seeds if you have not been licensed by ADAI.