Are THC Drinks Legal in Alabama?

The ShipSips Team

Last verified October 16, 2026 against the official sources listed at the end of this page. General information, not legal advice.

Alabama THC drink laws at a glance

Status Allowed — regulated[1][4]
THC limit per serving 10 mg total THC; 12 fl oz max serving[1][2]
THC limit per container One serving per container (10 mg); 4 per carton[1][2]
Minimum age 21, with ID check[1]
Where it’s sold ABC-licensed retailers located in Alabama[1][4]
Online sales and shipping (state rule) Banned[1]
Ships from ShipSips See where we ship
Last verified October 16, 2026

Short answer

Only in licensed Alabama stores. Since January 1, 2026, hemp THC drinks may be sold only by Alabama-located retailers licensed by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, to adults 21 and over, with up to 10 mg total THC per 12 oz container. Online sales, delivery and direct shipments into Alabama are strictly prohibited.[1][4]

Since January 1, 2026, hemp-derived THC beverages and edibles may be sold in Alabama only by retailers that are located in Alabama and licensed by the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board, only to adults 21+, and only inside the licensed premises (HB 445, Act 2025-385, adding Ala. Code Title 28 Ch. 12). Online sales, direct delivery and direct shipment of consumable hemp products into Alabama are expressly banned (first offense Class A misdemeanor, then Class C felony). Beverages are capped at 10 mg total THC per serving, one serving per container of 12 fl oz or less, cartons of at most four cans; edibles at 10 mg per individually wrapped serving and 40 mg per carton. A 10% excise tax applies. Synthesized/converted cannabinoids and smokable hemp are banned.[1][4]

Delta-9 THC drinks in Alabama: what’s allowed

  • Limit per serving: Beverage or edible: not more than 10 mg total THC per serving (Ala. Code § 28-12-23(a)(1)); beverage serving size may not exceed 12 fl oz / 355 mL (§ 28-12-23(a)(4)).[1][2]
  • Limit per container or package: Beverage: one serving per container (ABC r. 20-X-32-.04(1)), so 10 mg total THC per container of 12 fl oz or less; one carton may hold no more than four 12-oz containers (§ 28-12-23(a)(4)). Edibles: each serving individually wrapped, 40 mg total THC per carton (§ 28-12-23(a)(3)). Topicals/sublinguals/other: 40 mg per container (§ 28-12-23(a)(2)).[1][2]
  • How THC is counted: Total THC, where THC includes delta-8, delta-9 and delta-10 THC (Ala. Code § 28-12-2(15)); the COA must report total THC including THCA (§ 28-12-22).[1][2]
  • Delta-8, THCA and other cannabinoids: Synthesized or converted psychoactive cannabinoids (other than decarboxylation of THCA) and smokable hemp are excluded from 'consumable hemp product' and 'strictly prohibited'; selling or possessing them is a Class C felony (§§ 28-12-2, 28-12-61). The COA must state the material was not synthesized or converted (ABC r. 20-X-32-.02). Products may not contain alcohol (except as flavoring) or any intoxicating compound other than cannabinoids (§ 28-12-23(b)). Delta-8 and delta-10 count toward the total-THC caps (§ 28-12-2(15)). Act 2025-385 repealed the 2024 psychoactive-cannabinoids law, Ala. Code § 13A-12-214.4.[1]

Age and purchase rules in Alabama

  • Minimum age: 21 (Ala. Code § 28-12-40(a)); ID must be checked against a driver license, Uniformed Service ID, passport or state ID (§ 28-12-48).[1]
  • Where it can be sold: ABC-licensed retailers located in Alabama only, at the licensed premises (§§ 28-12-2(14), 28-12-40, 28-12-45(d)(3)). Three license types: specialty retailer (21+ only, own entrance, off-premises consumption only, min. 500 sq ft), pharmacy (topicals/sublinguals), and retail food store (beverages only, behind glass in a separated area with a 21+ sign) (ABC r. 20-X-33-.01, -.03). No on-premises consumption or tastings (§ 28-12-46(a)). Effective Oct 1, 2026, Act 2026-504 (SB 287) also lets ENDS/vape specialty retailer permit holders obtain the license.[1][4]
  • Seller licenses: ABC Board consumable hemp retailer license required for every sale (from Jan 1, 2026). Requires local governing body approval, $50 filing fee, $1,000 annual license fee, and a $25,000 surety bond per licensed location; license year starts Oct 1 (§ 28-12-40). Selling without a license: civil penalties of $5,000 / $7,500 / $10,000, with the third offense a Class C felony (§ 28-12-44).[1][4]
  • Online sales, shipping and delivery: Prohibited. 'Online sales, direct delivery, drive-through sales, and direct shipments of consumable hemp products within or into this state are strictly prohibited' (§ 28-12-60(a)); direct shipment means shipment from any producer or retailer directly to an Alabama resident. First violation Class A misdemeanor; second or later Class C felony (§ 28-12-60(b)-(c)). Products shipped directly to consumers are 'unlawful hemp products' subject to seizure (§§ 28-12-2(16), 28-12-62).[1]

How the federal hemp rule affects Alabama

Federal law is a separate layer on top of Alabama law. A federal law signed November 12, 2025 rewrites the federal definition of hemp so that finished products may contain no more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container. A second law signed September 2, 2026 delays most of that change until December 11, 2026; until then it applies only to products made with cannabinoids the cannabis plant can’t produce naturally. Follow the dates on our federal hemp rule tracker.[F1][F2]

Pending bills and local rules in Alabama

  • HB 590 (2026 Regular Session), pharmacy-related hemp bill, introduced 3/10/2026; final status not verified[8]
  • Local rules: A retailer license cannot be issued without approval from the local governing body of the county or municipality where the premises is located (§ 28-12-40(b)). 10% of the excise tax goes to the municipality. No separate city/county hemp ordinances were checked.

Does ShipSips ship to Alabama?

This page is information only. See where we ship for our current shipping list; checkout checks every address against it.

Alabama THC drink FAQ

Is delta-9 THC legal in Alabama?

Only in licensed Alabama stores. Since January 1, 2026, hemp THC drinks may be sold only by Alabama-located retailers licensed by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, to adults 21 and over, with up to 10 mg total THC per 12 oz container. Online sales, delivery and direct shipments into Alabama are strictly prohibited.

Does Alabama law allow online sales or shipping of THC drinks?

Prohibited. 'Online sales, direct delivery, drive-through sales, and direct shipments of consumable hemp products within or into this state are strictly prohibited' (§ 28-12-60(a)); direct shipment means shipment from any producer or retailer directly to an Alabama resident. First violation Class A misdemeanor; second or later Class C felony (§ 28-12-60(b)-(c)). Products shipped directly to consumers are 'unlawful hemp products' subject to seizure (§§ 28-12-2(16), 28-12-62).

What is the THC limit for drinks in Alabama?

Per serving: Beverage or edible: not more than 10 mg total THC per serving (Ala. Code § 28-12-23(a)(1)); beverage serving size may not exceed 12 fl oz / 355 mL (§ 28-12-23(a)(4)). Per container or package: Beverage: one serving per container (ABC r. 20-X-32-.04(1)), so 10 mg total THC per container of 12 fl oz or less; one carton may hold no more than four 12-oz containers (§ 28-12-23(a)(4)). Edibles: each serving individually wrapped, 40 mg total THC per carton (§ 28-12-23(a)(3)). Topicals/sublinguals/other: 40 mg per container (§ 28-12-23(a)(2)).

What is the minimum age for THC drinks in Alabama?

21 (Ala. Code § 28-12-40(a)); ID must be checked against a driver license, Uniformed Service ID, passport or state ID (§ 28-12-48).

What changes for Alabama with the federal hemp rule?

The federal cap of 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container is scheduled to apply to most hemp products from December 11, 2026, on top of Alabama law. See the federal hemp rule tracker for the latest dates.

What changed and when

  • July 1, 2025: HB 445 (Act 2025-385) effective; repeals § 13A-12-214.4[1]
  • December 15, 2025: ABC Board consumable hemp rules (Ala. Admin. Code ch. 20-X-32 and 20-X-33) effective[2]
  • January 1, 2026: Title 28 Ch. 12 operative: ABC retailer licensing, 21+, 10 mg caps, labeling/packaging, direct-shipment ban, 10% excise tax[1]
  • October 1, 2026: SB 287 (Act 2026-504) effective — ENDS specialty retailer permit holders may hold a hemp retailer license[7]

What we couldn’t confirm

  • The signing date and act number of 2025 HB 445, which we could not read from a signed-act page.
  • The final status of 2026 HB 590.

THC drink laws in states near Alabama

Sources

Official sources first. Each was checked on the date shown.

  1. HB 445 (2025 RS) enrolled — Act 2025-385, adds Ala. Code Title 28 Ch. 12 (official; checked October 16, 2026)
  2. Ala. Admin. Code ch. 20-X-32 (ABC — consumable hemp products) (official; checked October 16, 2026)
  3. Ala. Admin. Code ch. 20-X-33 (ABC — consumable hemp retailer licenses) (official; checked October 16, 2026)
  4. Alabama ABC Board — Hemp licensing & compliance (official; checked October 16, 2026)
  5. Alabama ABC Board — Consumable Hemp Pre-Application Checklist (Dec 2025) (official; checked October 16, 2026)
  6. SB 287 (2026 RS) enrolled — Act 2026-504 (official; checked October 16, 2026)
  7. SB 287 fiscal note (Act 2026-504), 05/22/2026 (official; checked October 16, 2026)
  8. Alabama House first readings 3/10/2026 (HB 590) (official; checked October 16, 2026)

General information, not legal advice. Hemp laws change often; check the official sources above and your local rules. ShipSips sells only to adults 21 and over.

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