SB274 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Dan RobertsSenator

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Psychoactive derivatives of CBD; Possession prohibited; criminal penalties provided for violations

Summary

SB274 would ban possession and sale of psychoactive cannabinoids like delta-8/9/10 in Alabama, with age-based penalties and a medical cannabis exception, effective October 1, 2025.

What This Bill Does

The bill defines psychoactive cannabinoids and prohibits their sale, distribution, or possession by anyone under 21, with required placement in areas not accessible to minors. It establishes criminal penalties for sales to minors, and creates civil-like citations for under-21 possession, including fines and potential community service, plus higher penalties for repeated offenses. It also adds new sections creating specific penalties for second-degree possession (personal use) and unlawful sale, and requires child-resistant packaging, while allowing exceptions for medical cannabis laws.

Who It Affects

• People under 21: cannot possess, purchase, or access psychoactive cannabinoids; may face civil citations with fines ($50-$200 per violation) or higher penalties on repeat offenses; selling to someone under 21 is a Class B misdemeanor.
• Retailers/sellers of psychoactive cannabinoids: may not sell, distribute, or market to anyone under 21; must keep products in areas inaccessible to those under 21; could face Class B misdemeanor for illegal sales and Class D felony for unlawful sale.
• Medical cannabis patients and providers: may possess or sell psychoactive cannabinoids only as permitted under Alabama's medical cannabis laws (the bill provides an exception for those cases).

Key Provisions

• Defines psychoactive cannabinoids as cannabinoids found in or derived from hemp, including delta-8-THC, delta-9-THC, and delta-10-THC.
• Prohibits possession, sale, distribution, or marketing of psychoactive cannabinoids to individuals under 21, and requires sold products to be located in areas not accessible to those under 21.
• Creates penalties: selling to someone under 21 is a Class B misdemeanor; unlawful sale is a Class D felony; under-21 possession triggers civil citations with fines ($50-$200) or $400 for third or subsequent convictions; second-degree possession for personal use is a Class A misdemeanor.
• Requires packaging of psychoactive cannabinoids in child-resistant containers and allows fines to be paid via community service in lieu of cash, with no additional court costs for initial offenses.
• Adds new sections 13A-12-214.5 and 13A-12-214.6 and amends 13A-12-214.4 to implement these rules, with an effective date of October 1, 2025 and exceptions for medical cannabis laws.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes & Offenses