Alabama bill requires negative pregnancy test for medical cannabis

In a powerful display of potential privacy conflicts, Sen. Larry Stutts (R-Tuscumbia) unveiled a measure that would require women ages 25 to 50 to provide proof of a negative pregnancy test to a dispensary in order to obtain medicinal cannabis in Alabama. This test must be from either a doctor or medical laboratory and must be completed 48 hours prior to purchase. Yes, you read that correctly.

Senate Bill 324 is a piece of work that is drawing a large amount of backlash from multiple communities. The Senate committee passed the bill by a vote of 7-2 last week and has faced much criticism ever since.

Organizations across the country responded accordingly. One example is the National Advocates for Pregnant Women (NAPW), who have called the law “blatantly unconstitutional and unprecedented.”

Others had similar reactions to the bill. “We are very concerned that this is a violation of the privacy of women in Alabama and their right to equal protection under the law,” NAPW attorney Emma Roth told AL.com.

In addition to the negative pregnancy test, women of “childbearing age” would also have to report to their doctor if they were pregnant. In addition, new mothers who are breastfeeding would also be prohibited from purchasing medicinal cannabis.

How these bans will be enforced – with inevitable consequences – is not discussed in the bill.

Medical cannabis is a new issue in the state of Alabama – Governor Kay Ivey only signed the law into law in May 2021. There has been much opposition from the legislature and a number of exceptions have been made since it was signed.

For example, only oral cannabis products (i.e. tinctures, capsules, etc.) are allowed. Smoking and vaping products and edibles are currently prohibited under state law and are still not available for purchase.

However, this new legislation, which would require women to take pregnancy tests, may go too far with regulations governing Alabama’s medical industry. And there are a lot of concerned people out there who want to make sure this law doesn’t get passed.

Alabama regulations are likely to put people off medical cannabis

The reasoning behind this bill is pretty simple: The CDC says that cannabis use during pregnancy has been shown to cause a number of health problems in newborns, including lower birth weight and unusual neurological developments. It is a very controversial topic and many women avoid it during pregnancy.

Even when it comes to cannabidiol (CBD), the medical community cannot determine whether or not these products have any negative effects in pregnant or breastfeeding women – there simply isn’t enough research.

So why should Alabamans have to prove to their state government that they are responsible mothers and only use cannabis when they feel safe to do so?

Many people agree that the invasiveness of the bill’s measure is obvious. However, it also creates unnecessary inconveniences for women who need medicinal cannabis. Imagine this: Every time they buy cannabis, they would also have to buy (and set aside the time for) a pregnancy test. This is an additional burden for women in many ways.

To push things even further, Alabama has imposed more ridiculous restrictions on its medical industry. For example, only four pharmacy licenses are now approved in the entire state.

While there are already restrictions on where these pharmacies are allowed, Stutt’s bill plans to add more restrictions. The document prohibits pharmacies within 1,000 feet of a college or home-based childcare facility.

All of these rules will have only one result – a public discouraged from buying legal cannabis for medicinal purposes. In turn, it would not be surprising if the black market outstripped the legal industry.

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