After at least two Alabama cities moved to ban Delta-8 THC products, State Sen. Tim Melson (R-Florence) has introduced a bill that would outlaw the substances statewide.

SB132 would classify Delta-8, Delta-10, and other psychoactive THC variants as Schedule I controlled substances, placing them in the same category as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. Currently, Delta-8 THC — a less potent alternative to marijuana — is legal for adults and sold in vape shops, gas stations, and other retail locations.

The product is commonly available in vape cartridges, edibles, gummies, and other forms, effectively allowing the sale of a substance chemically similar to marijuana in Alabama.

Under existing law, the sale of Delta-8 products is restricted to adults, much like alcohol. However, SB132 seeks to remove these products from the market entirely by classifying them as illegal drugs. The bill would also repeal an existing statute that prohibits the sale of these psychoactive cannabinoids to minors, as the new classification would make them unlawful for any age group.

Law enforcement officials have raised concerns about the potential health risks of these unregulated substances, which are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

“It takes a while for the effects to kick in, they take more and before they know it they are hallucinating calling 911, having a panic attack, and we come out there with other first responders and have to handle the situation and get them treatment,” Shelby County police officer Shane Plyler told WRBC.

Currently available CBD products which do not contain psychoactive ingredients such as CBD oil are exempt from the proposal as these products are frequently used medicinally rather than recreationally and do not have the same effect as their psychoactive counterparts.