Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chig Martin comments on state raids on hemp stores

June 26, 2025 – Montgomery, AL - In a sweeping enforcement action that has sent shockwaves through Alabama's hemp industry, state and local law enforcement agencies raided multiple CBD and vape shops this week, just days before a controversial new hemp regulation law is set to take effect.

The Alabama Gazette spoke to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chad "Chig" Martin about this issue. Martin and his daughter operate Honeysuckle Hemp - a hemp store in Dothan.

Martin said that he shut his store down on Wednesday afternoon after nearby retailers were raided by state authorities.

"We are open today," Martin said. "We have taken all the smokable products off the shelves."

Smokable hemp derived products are currently legal in Alabama; but will be outlawed when new legislation takes effect on July 1.

The 2018 Farm Bill made hemp legal. Rather than growing the hemp for fiber to make clothes, paper, flooring, and car panels; the industry soon began marketing CBD oil from the hemp plants. Through distillation and other methods psychoactive cannabinoids were derived from the hemp and soon stores were popping up across the state selling cannabis infused beverages, gummies, edibles, and smokable products.

"This has been legal for six years," Martin said.

Martin said that the people whose stores were raided are afraid to speak up.

"People are scared to speak out for fear of being prosecuted," said Martin.

Martin said that his store has $17,000 worth of product that is legal to sell today that will be illegal to even possess next week.

Martin said that he and the other hemp store operators will have to move those products that will be Alabama illegal to neighboring states where they are still like, "Or they will have to be destroyed. We are trying to work out a deal with an out of state hemp store for them to buy it at an incredibly reduced price."

The legislature cracked down on the industry with legislation limiting the THC in the products and banning smokable products altogether. That law does not go into effect until July 1; but state law enforcement has begun raiding the stores in advance of the new law.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) confirmed that its State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) executed search warrants on June 23 at stores in Troy, Enterprise, Wetumpka, and Clanton, seizing what officials described as "large amounts of marijuana and drug paraphernalia." The raids were conducted in coordination with the Alabama Attorney General's Office and several local police departments.

"That store (in Enterprise) is just two miles from my house," Martin said. "It is a man and his wife who run it."

Martin said that law enforcement took all the cash, the products, and the employees cell phones.

According to ALEA, the operation followed a months-long investigation into alleged violations of existing marijuana laws by certain cannabidiol (CBD) retailers and vape shops.

"This operation was the culmination of an investigation that spanned over the course of several months following numerous complaints," ALEA said in a statement.

Store owners and employees have pushed back strongly against the raids, claiming they were blindsided and that the timing-just one week before House Bill 445 (HB445) takes effect-was unjust.

What HB445 Changes

HB445, which goes into effect July 1, bans:

- Smokable hemp (including flower and pre-rolls)

- High-potency THC gummies

- Synthetically derived cannabinoids like Delta-8 and Delta-10

- Online sales of hemp-derived THC products

The law also limits edibles and beverages to 10 milligrams of THC per serving and places enforcement authority under the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.

Supporters of the bill argue it's necessary to protect children and close loopholes in the state's marijuana laws. Critics, however, say it will cripple the hemp industry and criminalize products that were legal just days earlier.

Martin said repealing HB445 will be, "One of the first things I do," if elected governor.

Martin has been a recent guest on the Brandon and Christopher show Podcast, cohosted by Alabama Gazette Lead Reporter and Content Manager Brandon Moseley and Alabama Political Contributor Publisher Christopher Peeks.

No arrests have been reported in connection with the raids so far, but the Alabama Attorney General's Office and ALEA are expected to hold a press conference on June 27 to provide further details.

As the state prepares to enforce HB445, hemp retailers across Alabama are bracing for more inspections-and possibly more legal battles.

Chey Garrigan is the President and founder of the Alabama Hemp Industry Trade Association.

"We are working with the ABC Board to get the retail license applications ready for the stores to apply," said Garrigan.

Under HB445 the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board is tasked with licensing retailers who deal in psychoactive products derived from hemp. Hemp stores who remain in business after July 1 will have to get licensed by the ABC Board.

Martin faces pastor Will Boyd in the Democratic primary on May 19, 2026.

The winner of the Democratic nomination for Governor will go on to face the Republican nominee - Senator Tommy Tuberville and Ken McFeeters are the announced GOP candidates.