Senate Bill 321 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tom ButlerSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Psychoactive cannabinoids; psychoactive derivatives of hemp added as Schedule I drug; possession and use of psychoactive cannabinoids prohibited and criminal penalties provided; consumable hemp product laws repealed

Summary

SB321 would make hemp-derived psychoactive cannabinoids illegal, place them on Schedule I, repeal existing hemp product sales rules, and impose marijuana-like penalties for possession or use.

What This Bill Does

Psychoactive cannabinoids derived from hemp (such as Delta-8, Delta-9, and Delta-10) would be classified as Schedule I, while nonpsychoactive hemp cannabinoids would remain exempt. The bill repeals the law that allowed certain hemp products to be sold to people 21 and older. It creates criminal penalties for possession and use of psychoactive cannabinoids, with first-degree offenses as Class C or D felonies and second-degree offenses as Class A misdemeanors. It also adds a broad schedule of synthetic controlled substances and analogues and requires scheduling actions to be coordinated with health authorities, with an effective date of July 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• General public in Alabama who would face criminal penalties if found in possession or use of hemp-derived psychoactive cannabinoids.
• Retailers and manufacturers who previously sold consumable hemp products, as those products would no longer be regulated under the repealed hemp product law.

Key Provisions

• Only nonpsychoactive cannabinoids derived from hemp remain exempt; psychoactive hemp cannabinoids (Delta-8, Delta-9, Delta-10, etc.) become Schedule I substances.
• Unlawful possession or use of psychoactive cannabinoids is criminalized, with first-degree offenses as Class C or D felonies and second-degree offenses as a Class A misdemeanor.
• The consumable hemp product regulation (allowing 21+ sales with testing/labeling) is repealed.
• Sections creating new penalties for psychoactive cannabinoids and adding Schedule I analogues/synthetic substances are enacted, with an effective date of July 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes & Offenses