This Week in the Legislature: Cannabidiol Oil, Teacher Pay Raises and Bentley Impeachment
There are only eight meeting days left in Alabama’s 2016 Legislative Session, and the Alabama State House saw a burst of activity this week. For an update from Montgomery, we talk with Don Dailey, host of Capitol Journal on Alabama Public Television. To start, Dailey tells WBHM’s Rachel Osier Lindley about Leni’s Law, a bill the House passed Wednesday that would decriminalize a specific marijuana oil in a bid to help people coping with debilitating seizures. It’s named for Leni Young, a former Alabama resident who suffers from a seizure disorder.
Cannabidiol doesn’t cause a high like marijuana, and is being explored as a treatment for epilepsy. The bill would give people a defense from drug possession charges if they are using the oil to help with seizures. Lawmakers previously approved access to the oil through a study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, but some, including Young, couldn’t get into the study.
Additionally, the Alabama House of Representatives is expected to vote next week to establish a 15-person investigatory committee to probe the possible impeachment of Governor Robert Bentley.
Ukraine destroys more than 40 military aircraft in a drone attack deep inside Russia
The attack was disclosed on the same day as Zelenskyy said Ukraine will send a delegation to Istanbul for a new round of direct peace talks with Russia on Monday.
The women of No Sex for Fish are survivors — but their survival is precarious
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Two dead and hundreds arrested in France after PSG win soccer Champions League
Hundreds of people were arrested in the celebrations, which were largely peaceful but degenerated into violence in some areas.
At least seven dead after two Russian bridges collapse
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The White House is deporting people to countries they’re not from. Why?
The administration argues the men's home countries won't take them — but lawyers say getting sent to a country like South Sudan could lead to more persecution.
North Carolina had a housing crisis before Hurricane Helene; now it’s even worse
Hurricanes have gotten larger and wetter because of climate change and inland communities are at greater risk from heavy flooding. That's what Hurricane Helene did to western North Carolina last year.
