Will Boyd addresses the Alabama Cannabis Coalition

February 24, 2026 – MONTGOMERY – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Will Boyd spoke to members of the Alabama Cannabis Coalition at the Alabama State House. The Cannabis Coalition was in Montgomery for their annual Lobby the Legislature Day.

They are seeking the repeal of House Bill 445, passed last year, that outlawed smokeable hemp products and heavily regulated the remaining psychoactive cannabinoids derived from hemp that can be legally sold in Alabama.

Boyd said, "The definition of a weed is a wildflower growing where it is not wanted."

Boyd said that he opposed HB445 because, "One thousand business owners were treated like there were weeds. Those wildflowers brought in over a $million a year in revenue to this state. The sugar high is over, and we really need the revenue."

"Why would you snatch a business out of the state? said Boyd. "I have expressed my view on what I feel is a bad policy."

Boyd, the pastor of a church in Florence, said that he has never smoked hemp or marijuana; but that he is "The only candidate who has taken the time to go through the innovation portal" to get informed on hemp and the issues surrounding cannabis.

"I believe this is a step back for farmers and patients," said Boyd. "I believe it is a step back in freedom."

"It is not right to hate something without taking the time to understand it," Boyd said of legislators who voted for HB445.

"I am endorsed by the Alabama Cannabis Coalition, and I say that," every time I am speaking to an audience said Boyd.

Boyd said that he will prioritize repealing HB445 when he is elected governor, but it will require action by the Alabama Legislature.

"Legislative action is pulling people, pulling patients, pulling farmers, pulling physicians into a special session," to get his plan passed said Boyd.

Boyd hoped to do this in a special session.

"People are hurting," from HB445 said Boyd. "I talk to people about what they are suffering. I talk to one many that had to dispose of 60 percent of his product. Legislative action would be bringing people in to work for an appeal if necessary."

Body said that he also supports reforming the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board Rto remove unnecessary red tape impacting the cannabis industry.

"How interesting is it that you can have an alcoholic beverage in a store without a protective cap, but then something like this has to have a child protective cap changing the bottling process?"

Boyd cautioned that, "Electing Will Boyd as governor does not automatically make everything better there is a process."

Boyd in addition to legalizing more psychoactive hemp products promised that he would also pass an educational lottery.

"It is illegal to have lotteries in Alabama," explained Dr. Boyd. "It takes three fifths of each house of the legislature and then it goes to the people for a vote. If it passes, then the governor brings everybody together to try to make it better."

Boyd encouraged those present to, "Put pressure on the people in these offices to make things better."

Boyd asked, "Why would you take out a million dollars in revenue at a time when we really need it?........... Big alcohol and big pharma!"

A store manager of a Huntsville CBD store told Boyd that after HB445

"Our venders have been having to send in the labels to the state to get them approved," the store manager said.

Most of the products they used to sell are now illegal under the new Alabama law.

"We have four edibles and beverage with 5 and 10 milligrams," she explained.

A worker at a hemp store in Birmingham said that the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (which was tasked with regulating hemp products in Alabama) made the store owner "erect a wall" so that there is a physical barrier between the hemp store and an adjoining bar in the same building. They also said, "We could only sell hemp products (in their business)."

"They took away the online sales and then they told us that we have to be a hemp only store," the Huntsville store manager said. "There is no limit on how many packages of gummies they can buy."

"Some people gave up the fight, some people left the state, some people have different ideas about the situation," said Boyd of the reaction to HB445's passing.

"I am pushing for fairness," said Boyd. "There are 300,000 people I am pushing for with Medicaid Expansion."

Boyd said that cannabis helps treat PTSD "There are a lot of veterans that need help."

"Alabama has one of the ten highest prison incarceration rates in the world," said Boyd.

Boyd said that HB445 made possession of hemp (with intent to sell) a Class C felony.

"This law makes possession of hemp the equivalent of burglary," said Boyd. "When you have people who have it for personal use it is a Class A misdemeanor."

"When you have a felony conviction you can't get an apartment you can't buy a home," said Boyd.

"When I travel the state DHR is the group that I most hear about," said Boyd.

Boyd said that the Legislature should "Let the people vote on it (cannabis legalization)."

"Putting it on the ballot allows the people of Alabama to decide whether they want it or not," stated Boyd.

"I can't get any of this done unless I am in office," said Boyd.

Marty Schelper is the President of the Alabama Cannabis Coalition.

"May 19 will be the first time I ever voted for a Democrat when I cast my vote for Will Boyd," said Schelper.

The group met at the Statehouse and spent the day organizing and talking with lawmakers.

Boyd faces a crowded Democratic primary field that includes: Chad "Chig" Martin, Yolanda Flowers, Rev. JaMel Brown, Nathan Mathis, and former Senator Doug Jones. Jones has raised more money than all the other Democratic candidates combined.

The eventual Democratic nominee will also still have to face the Republican Party nominee.

The likely Republican nominee will be Senator Tommy Tuberville – arguably the most popular politician in the state. No Democrat has won a gubernatorial election in Alabama in this century.

The major party primaries are on May 19.

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