Alabama Senate approves medical marijuana bill

February 25, 2021
AggregatedNews
Alabama
0 Comments

Alabama senators took only about 15 minutes this afternoon to pass a bill to regulate the production, sales and use of medical marijuana.

The legislation would still have to pass the House of Representatives to become law.

On a 21-8 vote, the Senate passed the bill by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence. It would allow doctors to recommend medical cannabis products for a broad range of conditions such as anxiety, nausea, chronic pain, and sleep disorders.

It would create a Medical Cannabis Commission that would oversee a “seed-to-sale” system, issuing licenses for the cultivating, processing, dispensing, transporting, and testing of medical cannabis. Patients with qualifying conditions would receive medical cannabis cards.

The bill, called the Compassion Act, would make Alabama the 37th state to allow medical marijuana, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The Senate has also passed the bill the last two years, but it has stalled in the House. Melson said the legislation this year is essentially the same as what the Senate passed last year.

A medical researcher and anesthesiologist, Melson said the evidence makes a strong case that people in Alabama should be able to try medical cannabis products for conditions that conventional medications have not resolved. [Read more at AL.com]

This Post Has 0 Comments

Recent Stories

Foreign Investment in U.S. Cannabis: Five Key Considerations

By Griffen Thorne, Attorney at Harris Sliwoski Cannabis investments are difficult enough when the investor is a U.S.-based person or entity. But things can get immensely more complicated when foreign investment is on…

Marijuana tax revenues fall short of projections in many states, including Colorado

Nearly half of Americans live in a state that allows legal access to recreational marijuana. Eleven more states, including Wisconsin and Florida, are considering legalization in 2024. One of the most common rationales…

Eaze cannabis delivery drivers threaten strike ahead of annual pot day

California cannabis delivery company Eaze may face a work stoppage by April 20, a peak sales time for weed businesses. Nearly 600 cannabis delivery drivers and depot staff across California…

Cannabis legalization bill passes N.H. House, but lacks governor’s support

A marijuana legalization bill that passed the New Hampshire House on Thursday, after months of workshopping and debate, lacks the support it would need from Governor Chris Sununu to become…