HB485 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Patricia Todd

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Cannabis, use, possession, cultivation, sale of legalized for limited amounts, Department of Revenue authorized to tax and regulate

Summary

HB485 would legalize possession, use, and limited cultivation of cannabis for adults 21+, create a government-regulated system to grow, process, and sell cannabis through licensed stores, and impose a tax on cannabis sales.

What This Bill Does

It would allow adults 21+ to possess up to one ounce of cannabis, use it, and cultivate limited amounts for personal use. It would authorize the Department of Revenue to regulate the cultivation, processing, packaging, testing, transportation, display, and sale of cannabis and cannabis accessories, with sales restricted to regulated retail cannabis stores and a new cannabis tax. It would establish licensed cannabis establishments for retail, cultivation, product manufacturing, and testing, with rules, fees, and annual license periods, while local governments may regulate the number and location of these establishments. It would also advance industrial hemp regulation by a future date and set age/privacy protections and restrictions on advertising and sale to protect against underage access.

Who It Affects

• Adults aged 21 and older who would be legally allowed to possess, use, and cultivate limited amounts of cannabis for personal use.
• Cannabis businesses (retail stores, cultivation facilities, product manufacturing facilities, and testing facilities) and local governments (municipalities/counties) that would license, regulate, and tax cannabis activity, and consumers who would purchase cannabis from regulated stores.

Key Provisions

• Legal possession, display, purchase, or transport of one ounce or less of cannabis by adults 21+; allowed transfer of one ounce or less without remuneration to another 21+ individual; non-public use.
• Department of Revenue would license and regulate cannabis establishments (retail stores, cultivation facilities, product manufacturing facilities, testing facilities) and set fees, security, labeling, health and safety standards, and penalties for noncompliance.
• Cannabis sales would be restricted to regulated retail cannabis stores; a state sales tax on cannabis would be imposed, with revenue distributed to municipal police to combat illegal drug trafficking; tax rate limited to the maximum alcoholic beverage tax rate.
• Local governments may regulate the time, place, manner, and number of cannabis facilities; they may enact ordinances to prohibit certain establishments; license issuance and oversight involve collaboration between the Department of Revenue and local authorities.
• Industrial hemp would be regulated starting by July 1, 2015, and licenses/ rules would govern cultivation, processing, and sale of hemp.
• Licenses would be valid for one year; if the Department fails to issue/deny a license within specified timelines, applications may proceed to local government; privacy protections limit collection of consumer information beyond essential identification for age verification.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Cannabis