Alabama Medical Marijuana Legalization Bill, SB 46, signed by Governor Kay Ivey

Alabama Republican Governor Kay Ivey signed a bill on Monday that legalizes the medical use of cannabis in the state. The measure, Senate Bill 46, was passed by the Alabama House of Representatives earlier this month after being approved by the Senate in February. Alabama’s medical marijuana legalization move is effective immediately, although vendors must be licensed by the state prior to legal medical cannabis sales.

“This is certainly a sensitive and emotional issue that is under constant investigation,” Ivey said in a statement on the legislation. “At the state level, we had a study group that looked into this in depth, and I’m interested in the potential that good medical cannabis can have for people with chronic diseases, or what it can do to improve the quality of life for them People improve in their final days. “

Alabama’s newly signed Medical Marijuana Act allows doctors to recommend cannabis to patients with one of about a dozen serious medical conditions, including seizures. Spasticity associated with certain diseases or spinal cord injuries; Anxiety or panic disorder; and incurable diseases. Qualified patients with a doctor’s recommendation will receive medical marijuana IDs from the state. The new law allows registered patients to have up to “70 daily doses” of medicinal cannabis at the same time, with each dose being a maximum of 50 milligrams.

The Alabama Medical Marijuana move also establishes a state medical marijuana commission, which is responsible for licensing the cultivation, processing, distribution, transportation, laboratory testing, and dispensing of medical marijuana. The Commission will also maintain a seed sales tracking system to oversee the production, distribution and sale of regulated cannabis products en route from cultivator to patient.

The cannabis medicinal products approved by the measure are strictly regulated. Oral tablets and tinctures, topical agents, transdermal patches, rubber cubes, lozenges, liquids for inhalers and suppositories are expressly permitted. Herbal or smokable forms of cannabis and foods like baked goods and candy are not legalized by the new law.

Cannabis advocates are responding to Alabama’s new medical marijuana law

“This move is an important first step for alabamans. As already written, this program is only able to meet the actual needs of patients to a limited extent. Many of them benefit maximally from inhaling cannabis flowers instead of oral formulations, which are often much slower to act and have more varied effects. “Carly Wolf, the state policy manager for the National Organization for the Reform of the Marijuana Law (NORML), said in a statement.

“Furthermore, we reject the notion that cannabis should be a ‘last resort’ treatment. However, this law begins by providing alabamans with a safe, legal, and consistent source of medication for the first time, ”Wolf continued. “We expect and hope that legislators will continue to expand this access in the coming months and years so that the interest of patients comes first.”

The Darren Wesley “Ato” Hall Compassion Act, also known as SB46, was introduced in the Alabama Senate by Senator Tim Melson, a Republican who is also a medical researcher and anesthetist. He believes the evidence available enables Alabama residents to choose the right to use medical marijuana, especially when more traditional treatments have not been effective.

“I was skeptical five years ago,” said Melson. “I started listening to patients rather than prejudiced people, and here we are today.”

Karen O’Keefe, state policy director for the Marijuana Policy Project, said in a statement that the passage of SB 46 was “an important step forward for Alabamians.”

“Rather than being arrested and prosecuted for using medical cannabis, this new law will allow patients suffering from illnesses and illnesses to safely use and access medical cannabis, a treatment option available to so many of their fellow Americans.” Said O’Keefe. “We applaud the legislature for passing and Governor Ivey for signing the Compassion Bill.”

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