Foley City Council To Consider Hemp Sales Ordinance Changes

John Mullen • May 18, 2026

The city will discuss adding rules for hemp-derived consumable products during its May 18 joint meeting.

Foley City Hall

Foley, Ala. – (OBA) – Foley will be looking at making an ordinance change to add language about selling hemp products in the city. This would include areas in the city’s police jurisdiction and would include the sale of derivatives from hemp plants for consumption.

 

The Foley City Council will meet in a joint regular-work session on May 18 at 4 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall to discuss the ordinance.

 

“A finished product that is intended for human or animal consumption and that contains any part of the hemp plant or any compound, concentrate, extract, isolate, or resin derived from hemp. The term includes, but is not limited to, products that contain cannabinoids,” the resolution states. “The term does not include seeds or seed-derived ingredients that are generally recognized as safe by the United States Food and Drug Administration.”

 

Excluded from the proposed ordinance are smokable products and synthetic cannabinoid products.

 

During the joint regular/work session, the council will also discuss:

 

  •  A police department report from April shows that 248 inmates were processed through the city jail, bringing the year-to-date total to 992. Crimes reported include 17 for simple assault, domestic violence, and 11 for shoplifting. There were 34 arrests for controlled substances, 14 arrests for misdemeanor marijuana possession, and 10 arrests for possessing drug paraphernalia. Officers were called 2,601 times in April.
  • A report showing Foley collected $3.7 million in sales tax in April, or about $300,000 more than budget projections and $266,000 above April 2025 collections. Foley collected $269,180 in lodging taxes in April, or about $10,000 below budget projections and about $9,000 above 2025 collections.
  • A report from the fire department’s April activity shows crews assisted invalids 40 times, responded to 26 traffic collisions, answered fire alarms 21 times, and 14 times for hazardous materials after a traffic crash. Crews were called out and canceled en route 25 times.
  • A report showing that Foley paid $9.6 million for goods and services in April.
  • Approving a June 21 retirement. No other information was provided in the agenda.
  • Approving the use of Heritage Park for the Foley High School wrestling team for a dual meet on Nov. 17.
  • Setting a public hearing to declare weeds and trash at 406 E. Myrtle Ave., 3915 Linton Lane, 618 E. Azelea Ave., and S. Hickory St. at Crownwalk Subdivision as public nuisances and order cleanups at the property.
  • A change order to add $19,000 to the sidewalk project on State Route 59 from East Orchid Avenue to East Section Avenue to pave a ditch with a steep slope “needed to ensure the integrity of the project.”
  • Making changes to the city’s pay classification plan.
  • Spending $60,000 to replace parts in the fuel tank at the airport “to ensure that fuel is not contaminated when dispensed into aircraft.”
  • Amending the budget to add $37,400 to make plans for the city’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
  • Voting for a four-way stop at the intersection of North Poplar Street and East Section Avenue.
  • Paying $42,321 to Riviera Utilities to provide power to the city’s new first-responder safe room.
  • Transferring $9,000 between categories in the Environmental budget to cover “additional staff time that was not expected.”
  • Accepting a $3,000 Dollar General Summer Reading Grant.
  • Awarded bids in April to PL Russell for $939,049 for sidewalk improvements along State Route 59 to East Azalea Avenue to Pride Drive and to RH Deas Building for $249,971 for improvements to Holk Field at the Foley Municipal Airport. Two other bids, one for the Municipal Complex master plan and the one for architecture and engineering for the Foley Senior Center, are both still under further review.
  • Soliciting architectural and engineering firms to develop Fire Station No. 4 for the fire department.
  • Going to bid on and buy an EV four-wheel-drive pickup truck for the police department. The city budgeted $696,000 for nine Ford interceptors and, with the remaining $128,228, would like to buy the EV truck, according to a memo from Carley Hester.


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