The Hoover City Council has enacted new licensing requirements for businesses selling consumable hemp products, such as CBD oils and edibles. The council decided to increase the licensing fee to a flat $2,000 per business, a significant rise from the previous fee structure based on sales volume. This decision was made despite objections from local business owners, including B.J. Autry, who owns the Sunmed CBD store in the Lake Crest Plaza shopping center. Autry noted that his previous annual fee was about $400, and the new ordinance increases his costs fivefold.
In addition to the city fee, businesses must also pay a $1,000 licensing fee to the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. Autry described Hoover’s additional $2,000 fee as punitive. The original proposal suggested a $500 fee, but Councilwoman Khristi Driver advocated for the increase, citing new state laws that grant Hoover more regulatory authority over such businesses. The higher fee is intended to cover the costs of monitoring and enforcing these regulations.
Hoover’s approach to regulating consumable hemp products now mirrors that of alcoholic beverages, including location restrictions. Businesses must be at least 500 feet away from any church or public school, as per state regulations. City Attorney Charlie Waldrep confirmed that these distance requirements will apply to hemp product sellers. Furthermore, businesses must obtain specific approval from the Hoover City Council to sell consumable hemp products, similar to the approval process for alcohol sales.
The new ordinance also prohibits the sale, service, or possession of consumable hemp products in city school buildings, playgrounds, parks, athletic fields, and recreation buildings, with exceptions for private recreation rooms that are leased or rented. Additionally, it is illegal to consume hemp products at establishments licensed to sell them or at places licensed to sell alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption.
Other Council Decisions
In other matters, the Hoover City Council approved a $29,089 contract with Stryker for preventative maintenance on the Hoover Fire Department’s emergency medical equipment. They also set reimbursement fees for patient transport by the Hoover Fire Department and scheduled public hearings for various zoning and business requests, including a proposal to expand a home day care and a request for a new dog day care facility.
Original reporting: Hoover Sun — read the source article.
