INDUSTRY UPDATES

May 02, 2025

Updates in Seven States: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Montana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Texas

A quick breakdown:

  • Alabama: A substitute for HB 445 is expected to pass the Senate, improving licensing rules but still imposing problematic restrictions like shipping bans, packaging mandates, and low THC limits. (more info)
  • Arkansas: Governor Sanders signed HB 533 into law, effectively ending the consumable hemp market by capping THC at 1mg per container and transferring oversight to the Tobacco Control Board. (more info)
  • Florida: The session ends with the defeat of SB 438 and flawed bills HB 7027 and HB 7029 also failing, offering more time to pursue improved hemp regulations next year. (more info)
  • Montana: HB 49, now law, severely limits hemp products with restrictive THC caps of 0.5mg per serving and 2mg per package. (more info)
  • Oklahoma: Governor Stitt directed agencies to intensify enforcement on psychoactive hemp-derived compounds like Delta 8 and Delta 10, calling for regulatory reviews and statutory recommendations. (more info)
  • Rhode Island: HB 6270 would ban hemp-derived THC beverages and powders unless approved under cannabis law, prompting urgent opposition from the industry. (more info)
  • Texas: A revised SB 3 passed out of committee preserves many hemp products but introduces new restrictions and ambiguities, including bans on vapes, online sales, and semi-synthetics, with the bill’s fate in the Senate uncertain. (more info)

Use our State Action Center to contact lawmakers and protect the future of hemp in your state.

Take Action Now

A big thank you to all hemp supporters for taking action to ensure that harmful bills, which would have been detrimental to the hemp industry in their respective states, did not become law!

Alabama

In Alabama, a substitute version of HB 445 is expected to be adopted in the Senate and is likely to pass.  While the new language includes favorable items like the elimination of the three-tier licensing system, several issues still remain. These include a prohibition on shipping hemp into and within the state, a ban on sampling, the requirement to individually wrap gummies, and prohibiting offsite sales. The current THC limit per container is currently 40mg and a higher limit would be preferred. We will continue to track this development closely and keep Hemp Supporters up to date. 

Alabama Action Center

Arkansas

Arkansas’ HB 533, legislation that virtually eliminates the entire hemp market by limiting consumable hemp products to 1mg per container, was signed into law by Governor Sanders on April 21. There are now new regulations regarding the manufacture, production, distribution, and sale of consumable hemp products in Arkansas under the purview of the Tobacco Control Board. Litigation on these issues continue, and we will keep you posted.

Florida

There is great news to report out of Florida this week. The legislature will adjourn sine dine today, May 2, and with the fall of the gavel comes the death of highly restrictive SB 438.  The Roundtable made good progress on improving  HB 7029, which would have reduced the excise tax on hemp sales from 60% to 15%, and HB 7027, which would have made changes to Florida’s hemp regulatory structure. But these bills still had several flaws, so we are greater for the extra opportunity to improve upon them. We will continue this work when the next legislative session begins in January. 

Florida Action Center

Montana

Unfortunately, Montana’s HB 49 was signed into law by Governor Gianforte and is now law. The bill sets THC limits of 0.5mg per serving and 2mg per package for hemp products. Thank you for your willingness to join our efforts to engage law makers to oppose this bill. 

Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, Governor Stitt issued a directive this week asking the respective directors of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, Medical Marijuana Authority, and State Bureau of Investigation to band together to strengthen enforcement and regulatory action surrounding psychoactive marijuana byproducts.  Governor Stitt specifically called for a focus on Delta 8 THC, Delta 10 THC, HHC, THC-O, THCP, and THCV.  Agencies will be focusing on unlawful points of sale, distribution networks, and sources as well as the scope of sale in licensed dispensaries.  Stitt requested that the agencies identify gaps in the current regulatory and enforcement framework and make recommendations for potential statutory or administrative changes. 

Rhode Island

Rhode Island’s HB 6270 was introduced this week. The legislation introduces amendments to the Rhode Island Cannabis Act, specifically targeting the regulation of beverages and drink mix powders containing hemp-derived delta-9 THC. The bill seeks to prohibit the sale of such items unless they are approved under the state’s existing cannabis regulatory framework. Please use our State Action Center to urge lawmakers to oppose this bill.

Rhode Island Action Center

Texas

There are big developments coming out of Texas this week. Late on Wednesday evening, a Texas House committee passed a substitute version of SB 3 that contains the provisions in HB 28 and tightens current regulations but is far less restrictive than the original language that would ban hemp products in the Lonestar State. While retailers would be allowed to continue selling hemp beverages, consumables, and low-dose hemp flowers, vapes would be prohibited and counties would be allowed to vote to ban consumable hemp products. The bill is fraught with ambiguity and many unanswered questions. Aside from the vape ban, a number of issues remain in this new legislation, including:

  • An apparent ban on direct-to-consumer sales, including a ban of online beverage sales.
  • A maximum limit of 75mg THC per container.
  • A ban on semi-synthetic products like delta 8-THC and conversions.

You may recall that the original version SB 3, banning hemp products, is championed by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and he has not provided input on this new legislation. If the bill reaches the Senate it is likely to be amended, prevented from passing, or used as a bargaining chip for other pieces of public policy. Please use our State Action Center to urge lawmakers to defeat SB 3.

Texas Action Center

Visit our State Action Center to see active campaigns across the country!

State Action Center

Check out the latest hemp and CBD updates from across the states!