On Tuesday, Alabama conservative groups applauded the U.S. Senate for including a ban on "intoxicating hemp-derived drugs," such as Delta-8 THC, in legislation to reopen the federal government.
The legislation closed a "loophole" legalizing the products in the 2018 Farm Bill.
"This is an enormous win for public health and for the safety of our children," said Becky Gerritson, executive director of Eagle Forum of Alabama. "For too long, these dangerous products have sat openly on store shelves, targeting teens, harming kids, and blindsiding parents. Closing the loophole in federal law is essential, and I applaud the senators who stood firm against Big Hemp's misinformation campaign."
Ray French, CEO of Oscity Labs, a hemp manufacturing company in Fairhope, said the provision was included in legislation reopening the federal government due to lobbying by "big pharma, big alcohol, big cannabis, all trying to kill different parts of the hemp program."
The provision banning hemp and hemp-derived products takes effect 365 days after the bill is signed into law.
"We're going to have to wait to see all the implications, and with delayed enforcement, I would have hope there's an opportunity for them to work out specifics," French told 1819 News in an interview Tuesday.
The Alabama Policy Institute (API) also applauded the Senate's action. API said on Facebook, "Congress is thankfully ending its 'accidental' backdoor national legalization of cannabis/THC in the 2018 Farm Bill."
"Selling THC-laced gummies and drinks in convenience stores, grocery stores, and over the Internet while ignoring the considerable societal costs is a clear example of horrible federal public policy that landed squarely on state law enforcement and state legislators' shoulders. Righting that wrong is the right thing to do," API said.
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