First Person Arrested for Possessing Smokable Hemp Products Under New Alabama Law  

A woman was arrested in Athens, Alabama, on July 7 for possession of
smokable hemp products, the Decatur Daily reports. Mary Nobel, 26, is the
first person to be arrested under the new law, which was signed into law by
Gov. Kay Ivey (R) on July 1.

Nobel is accused of possessing seven delta-9 pre-rolls and a vape pen
containing hemp-derived THC, and is charged with possession of a controlled
substance and second-degree possession of marijuana.

Athens is about 10 miles south of the Tennessee border, where smokable hemp
products remain legal.

Defense Attorney Mark McDaniel, who is not representing Nobel, told WAFF
that the arrest occurring close to the Tennessee border was not a surprise.


“Don’t think that you can go up to Tennessee and do something up there and
bring the hemp back down here, bring a vape down here, cigarettes, cigar,
whatever it is. You bring it back down here, and you think, well, I bought
it in Tennessee, it was legal. Don’t matter.” — McDaniel to WAFF

The new Alabama law makes it a Class C felony to possess or sell smokable
hemp products, including vapes, hemp flower, pre-rolls, and cigars. Under
state law, the penalty for a Class C felony is one to 10 years in prison
and up to $15,000 in fines.