Alabama Governor Signs Medical Marijuana Legislation
Alabama lawmakers during the 2021 legislative session.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) —
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed medical marijuana legislation Monday as conservative opposition to the issue gradually faded after decades of debate.
The program will allow people with one of 16 qualifying medical conditions, including cancer, a terminal illness and depression, to purchase medical marijuana with the recommendation of a doctor. The approval came eight years after a medical marijuana bill in 2013 won that year’s so-called “Shroud Award” for the “deadest” bill of the year in the House of Representatives.
Ivey called signing the bill an “important first step” and thanked the sponsors, of the bill for their work. While the bill takes effect immediately, the bill sponsor estimated it will be about 15 months or so before medical marijuana is available in the state.
“This is certainly a sensitive and emotional issue and something that is continually being studied. On the state level, we have had a study group that has looked closely at this issue, and I am interested in the potential good medical cannabis can have for those with chronic illnesses or what it can do to improve the quality of life of those in their final days,” Ivey said.
The bill was sponsored by Republican Sen. Tim Melson, an anesthesiologist. It was handled in the House of Representatives by Republican Rep. Mike Ball, a former state trooper and state investigator. The approval came after a number of lawmakers shared stories of loved ones and their illnesses.
“Hopefully, we are going to help some people,” Melson said Monday night.
Melson said for people who have tried other treatments without success, that people will have “another option to treat themselves and get some relief.” The state Senate approved the bill in February by a 21-8 vote after just 15 minutes of debate. But the House of Representatives had traditionally been more skeptical of medical marijuana proposals and sent the bill through two committees before approving it 68-34.
The bill would allow the marijuana in forms such as pills, skin patches and creams but not in smoking or vaping products.
The program authorizes use of medical marijuana to treat for conditions including cancer-related nausea or vomiting, or chronic pain; Crohn’s disease; depression; epilepsy, HIV/AIDS-related nausea or weight loss; panic disorder, Parkinson’s disease; persistent nausea; post-traumatic stress disorder; sickle cell anemia; spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and Tourette’s syndrome.
Representatives voted to name the bill after the son of a state Democratic representative, Laura Hall. She had first introduced a medical marijuana bill over a decade ago after her son Wesley ‘Ato’ Hall had died of AIDS.
Ball, who shepherded the bill through the House, said last week that “hearts and minds” were slowly changed on the issue.
“I think we just educated them as much as anything. This wasn’t done on emotion. This was done on science,” Melson said.
4 lives are upended by an impulsive kiss in the epic novel ‘Buckeye’
Patrick Ryan's novel focuses on two married couples and stretches from pre-WWII to the close of the 20th century, capturing both the sweep of history and the mundane particularity of everyday life.
Trump makes a rare D.C. restaurant visit to tout his federal crackdown on crime
In his first term, President Trump only dined out at the steakhouse in his former hotel. He visited a steakhouse near the White House on Tuesday, saying, "I wouldn't have done this three months ago."
Fired FBI agents allege retribution, incompetence at top security agency
The lawsuit from three senior and lauded FBI agents at the bureau says Trump administration demanded loyalty for those staying at the bureau.
Happy 75th birthday to Henry Huggins, Ramona Quimby’s big-kid neighbor
Beverly Cleary's fictional third grader with an adopted dog named Ribsy made his debut in 1950. Cleary was praised for writing simple, humorous stories that kids wanted to read.
California considers allowing doctors to prescribe abortion drugs anonymously
If passed, the law would protect doctors from legal risk by letting them omit their names from prescription labels for abortion pills. It would affect the many doctors who use California pharmacies.
Sabrina Carpenter crashes the charts at No. 1, again
This week's albums and singles charts are both dominated by the same record: Sabrina Carpenter's Man's Best Friend, which debuts at No. 1 and lands all 12 of its songs in the Hot 100's top 40.
