A bill brought forth by state Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, to regulate hemp-derived THC products was carried over in committee on Wednesday for the second time after another round of updates.

The latest tweaks were added to increase labeling and safety standards for products like delta-8, delta-9, and delta-10, according to Melson.

The sales tax on these products had been bumped up to an additional 10% on top of state and local sales tax, Melson said in this week’s Senate Committee on Healthcare meeting.

Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer, said Wednesday that he would like to see an even higher tax.

Melson’s original version of the bill would have classified these psychoactive cannabinoids as Schedule I controlled substances, in the same class as LSD or heroin.

In Alabama, possession of a Schedule I controlled substance is a Class D felony, which carries a standard sentence of 366 days to 5 years, according to state code.

Last week, Melson introduced major updates to the bill that would make the products legal but provide for their regulation.

“I’m not here to close any shops down,” he told the committee this week. “If you’re an adult and you want to go to these stores, go buy it.”

“…But if we’re going to have it, let’s make sure it’s pure, we know where it’s coming from, and it’s grown in a safe environment,” he continued.

With delta products now legal under his proposed law, Melson has made multiple substitutions in the bill to keep them away from minors, such as restricting sales to residents that are 21 and older and requiring that they are kept “out of reach from children” in gas stations and grocery stores, according to the senator.

Retailers who sell delta products to minors would be fined $1,500 on the first offense, $2,500 on the second, and $5,000 on the third under SB132, Melson previously told the committee.

On the fourth offense, retailers would lose their license to sell any “age related products” such as tobacco, alcohol, or delta products.

SB132 also stipulates that the products must be manufactured in Alabama and undergo testing to ensure their safety.

The bill was carried over, but Melson requested the Senate Committee on Healthcare meet to discuss it again on Thursday morning in the hopes of getting it on the Senate floor for a vote.

“It’s time for us to find an answer and get this done to protect our kids,” he said.

Melson’s updates are not currently available for viewing on the Alabama Legislature website.