Bessemer man arrested for drug trafficking after marijuana, THC edibles found at Birmingham business - wbrc.com
Enforcement Targeting · wbrc.com · Jul 15, 2026
Current legal posture, enforcement, market, and the latest Alabama hemp & THC headlines.
| Posture | HB445: smokable/THCA flower a Class C felony since 7/1/25; non-smokable only via ABC-licensed retailer (10mg/serv,40mg/pkg), no online/ship. Framework live 1/1/26. |
| Risk | high |
| Next trigger | Federal 0.4mg cap tightens surviving edible/bev market; AL smokable ban already fully in force. |
| Litigation | Mellow Fellow et al. v. Ivey/Marshall (Montgomery Cty): TRO/PI DENIED 6/30/25 — ban NOT blocked, in full effect. |
| Market size | Retailers | Jobs | Tax revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | — |
| Two people arrested for illegal hemp in raids at multiple Opelika, AL businesses (around HB445's smokable ban / ABC-only regime, eff. Jan 1 2026). | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Cherokee County, AL compliance checks resulted in the seizure of THC and kratom products. | Jul 10, 2026 |