TROY, Ala. — State law enforcement raided CBD and vape shops in Troy, Enterprise, Wetumpka, and Clanton this week, seizing marijuana, drug paraphernalia, cash, and electronics, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). The raids came just days before Alabama’s new law banning smokable hemp and restricting hemp-derived THC products is set to take effect on July 1.
ALEA said the operation followed months of investigation into alleged violations of existing marijuana laws by certain CBD and vape shops. No arrests have been reported, and the agency plans to address the raids at a press conference in Montgomery on June 27.
The timing of the raids has drawn criticism and confusion from store owners, who say they have complied with current regulations and that the new restrictions on smokable hemp and high-potency THC products have not yet taken effect. Under House Bill 445, signed into law in May, Alabama will ban the sale and possession of smokable hemp products, limit THC content in edibles, and require retailers to be licensed by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
Some business owners fear the new law and the recent enforcement actions will force closures and harm consumers who rely on hemp products for therapeutic purposes. The law’s supporters argue the regulations are necessary for public safety, while critics warn of economic damage and a possible increase in black market activity.
The Attorney General’s office confirmed the criminal prohibition on smokable hemp begins July 1, with violations potentially resulting in felony charges. Retailers are bracing for major changes as the state’s regulatory landscape shifts.