An Alabama company that sells hemp-derived products is defending itself after the passage of controversial legislation to restrict the state’s THC industry.

Easy Hemp Co. told customers in a social media post that it advocated for the best option for the industry and avoided a shutdown.

“The bill that passed wasn’t what we hoped for,” the company said on Facebook Thursday, “but it preserved a legal path forward for compliant adult-use products, responsible retailers, and the customers who rely on them.”

On Wednesday, Gov. Kay Ivey signed into law a bill to regulate THC products which contain the marijuana chemical derived from hemp, including drinks, gummies and other consumables, despite a strong effort to convince her to veto the bill.

Easy Hemp Co. said in its statement that it had vocally supported the legislation at first and then quieted down when the situation became “fragile.”

“Some have wrongly blamed Easy Hemp Co. for those restrictions. Others questioned our silence amid personal attacks and boycott calls,” the company said about what it called the strictness of the new law.

Store owners had lobbied the governor to veto the bill, HB445, out of concern it is too restrictive and will hurt business and limit customers’ ability to purchase THC products for pain relief. On the other side of the issue, the conservative Alabama Policy Institute argued the bill would effectively legalize marijuana.

Under the new law, business owners selling THC products must get a license from the ABC Board. Grocery stores must create designated areas for selling THC beverages and other stores must limit entrance to people over the age of 21. Smokable hemp products will be banned.

In its statement, Easy Hemp Co. responded to criticism, clarifying that it did not write the bill or lobby to limit the sale of higher-dosage products.

“Our efforts were to prevent the complete elimination of hemp-derived products in Alabama,” the group said.