Alabama Opens 2021 Applications For Hemp Growers

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ALABAMA:  The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) will accept hemp applications from eligible growers and processors/handlers, using a new online application system starting, October 13, 2020. Applications will be available at agi.alabama.gov/hempapp at 9:00 am, Tuesday, October 13, 2020.  The final day to apply for a hemp license is November 30, 2020 by 5:00 pm (CST).

In 2016, the Alabama Legislature passed the Alabama Industrial Hemp Research Program Act, Section 2-8-380 Code of Alabama 1975, tasking ADAI with the development of a licensing and inspection program for the production of industrial hemp. The program launched in 2019, after The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (i.e. Farm Bill) declassified hemp as a schedule I drug and deemed hemp as an agriculture commodity. This legislation defines hemp as all parts of the plant containing less than 0.3% THC, including derivatives, extracts, and cannabinoids.

“As the hemp industry continues to grow in Alabama, critical research data is being collected and evaluated,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate.  “This is the department’s third year to administer the hemp program. It has always been our goal to manage the program in a fair and timely manner to benefit Alabama farmers and hemp producers and develop industrial hemp as an alternative crop.”

The 2021 university/college affiliation license application information will be forthcoming before the first week in November 2020.

For more information and updates, please visit agi.alabama.gov/hempapp. ADAI will receive Industrial Hemp applications until 5:00 pm (CST) on November 30, 2020.

Packages Of Marijuana Wash Up On Beaches In Alabama, North Carolina

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ALABAMA:  An Alabama man stumbled upon a 10-pound package of marijuana that washed up on the beach.

Multiple news outlets report that Ron Smith was taking a morning walk near the Cotton Bayou Beach access in Orange Beach on Tuesday when he noticed what he thought was a seat cushion floating in the water.

Upon closer inspection, he realized the package was actually a bag full of compressed marijuana.

Smith called police, who picked up the package. Authorities say the bag weighed 10 pounds and was worth about $8,000.

 

Alabama Senate Committee Gives OK To Medical Marijuana Bill

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ALABAMA:  In a somewhat surprising move, a comprehensive medical marijuana bill passed in an Alabama Senate committee on Wednesday.

The Senate Judiciary Committee gave Sen. Bobby Singleton’s bill a favorable report on a 4-3 vote after little debate. The Medical Marijuana Patient Safe Access Act can now be considered on the Senate floor.

Senate leadership could, however, refuse to put the bill on a calendar so it can be debated and voted on by the full body.

A standing room only crowd filled the committee room hoping to participate in a public hearing on the bill. That hearing, however, was taken off the committee agenda prior to the meeting.

CBD Oil Now Legal In 12 States

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ALABAMA:  Legislation allowing the production of low-THC, CBD-rich marijuana has been approved for limited use in 12 states.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the many chemicals in marijuana. Recent publicity about children who suffer from seizures benefitting from oil extracted from marijuana that has almost no THC (i.e hemp)) has set off a wave of legislation like never seen before. Now state reps can favor marijuana without the fear of people getting high from it. This explains why so many Republicans are sponsoring these bills.

Here’s a state-by-state breakdown, in alphabetical order:

 

Alabama Senate Facing Bill Allowing Marijuana Oil

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ALABAMA: A Huntsville legislator expects a close vote when the state Senate considers his bill allowing an extract from marijuana to be used to treat children’s seizures from epilepsy.

Republican Sen. Paul Sanford says his bill could win or lose by a single vote.

Sanford’s bill was on the Senate’s work agenda Thursday, but the Senate broke for the weekend without getting to it. Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh says he expects it to be back on the work agenda on Tuesday.