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Opelika council imposes temporary moratorium on new business licenses for consumable hemp products
Summary
The City of Opelika voted to pause issuance of new business licenses for shops selling consumable hemp products through Jan. 1, 2026, citing recent state legislation and pending state regulations.
The Opelika City Council on June 17 approved a temporary moratorium preventing the city from issuing new business licenses for the sale of consumable hemp products until Jan. 1, 2026.
City staff introduced the measure after explaining changes under a recent state law. "Beginning July 1, it will become a Class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years to smoke a consumable hemp product," the staff member explained, adding that the state will license retailers and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board will adopt regulations ahead of Jan. 1.
The moratorium responds to Act 2025-385, signed May 17 by Governor Kay Ivey, which city staff described as comprehensive and containing staggered effective dates. Staff noted an apparent legal oddity in the act’s penalties: products with less than 0.3% THC are classified as hemp, but smoking consumable hemp products will carry a felony penalty under the new state law while smoking marijuana would remain a misdemeanor under a different statutory scheme.
Council members were told the moratorium would not revoke existing business licenses; it would only prevent the issuance of new licenses for businesses selling consumable hemp products for the seven-month period. The council voted to approve the resolution.
City staff said the council will reconsider the matter before Jan. 1, 2026, as state licensing and the ABC Board’s implementing regulations are developed.
