Birmingham City Council moves toward approval of cannabis dispensaries
Birmingham has taken “the first step” on the road to legalizing medical marijuana. The City Council voted Tuesday to approve an ordinance authorizing medical cannabis dispensaries to operate within Birmingham city limits.
The Alabama Legislature authorized the production and distribution of medical marijuana in the state last year, though it maintains strict regulatory control over the licensing process. That process is ongoing — the state is not expected to issue licenses until July — but Tuesday’s vote opens the city up to potential licensees.
“The state still has a while to go on what it’s doing and its process,” said Mayor Randall Woodfin. “But what I can tell you is, there is interest in this area, being the most populated area in the county or state on both the manufacturing and [distribution] side.”
State law will prohibit the dispensaries from being located within 1,000 feet of a school or childcare or daycare facility. Only officially authorized patients and caregivers will be allowed to enter the dispensaries. State law requires dispensaries to have video surveillance.
Even so, District 2 Councilor Hunter Williams said he had “a lot of reservations and concerns” about the ordinance, asking if the city would be able to increase the distance between dispensaries and schools, or if there would be any recourse for neighborhoods that did not want a proposed dispensary, citing previous neighborhood controversies surrounding CBD stores.
Woodfin encouraged council members to “put their healthcare hat on in how they go about viewing this topic.”
“This is not a CBD store,” he said. “It’s not even analogous. It’s not even in the same ballpark … It’s going to be extremely important on our end for residents to be armed with factual information.”
Assistant City Attorney Julie Barnard added that last year’s state cannabis law would allow for only nine licenses to be issued for all of Jefferson County.
“This isn’t something you’re going to see coming around every week,” she said.
The council ultimately voted in favor of the ordinance. District 3 Councilor Valerie Abbott was absent from the vote; Williams abstained.
Snow and wind batter parts of US, with threat of thunderstorms and tornadoes
A broad and erratic patchwork of severe weather rumbled across much of the U.S. on Sunday, dumping heavy snow in the Upper Midwest while damaging high winds swept across the Plains.
Crew of fatal US military crash included Alabama father recently deployed
The six U.S. service members who died in the crash of a U.S. military refueling aircraft included an Alabama father who had just been promoted and deployed. The U.S. government released the identities of the deceased service members Saturday.
Israeli soldiers fire on family car in occupied West Bank, killing 4
Israeli soldiers fired on a car carrying a family in the northern West Bank, killing four people including two children, the Palestinian Authority's Health Ministry said.
U.S. military names six killed in plane crash as Iran war enters third week
The conflict in the Middle East has entered a third week, with Israel announcing a barrage of new strikes on western Iran on Sunday, while the U.S. defense department released the names of six service members who died when their military refueling aircraft crashed.
Alabama poised to drastically overhaul utility regulation. Will it lower electric bills?
The Alabama Senate unanimously voted to expand the public service commission, and create a Secretary of Energy to address rising electricity prices. A bill in the House would go even further, requiring rate case hearings and limiting utility profits.
Sunday Puzzle: BAD!
Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with KCUR listener Justin Marciniak and Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz.
