Legislation that would make Alabama the 37th state to legalize medicinal cannabis cleared the House Health Committee on a voice vote Thursday morning, sending the bill to the full Alabama House of Representatives.
The bill is sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, who has carried medical cannabis legislation in the Statehouse for several sessions.
What the Bill Would Do
Melson’s legislation would establish a regulated seed-to-sale system for medical cannabis, closely monitoring every step from cultivation through sales at licensed dispensaries.
Under the proposal, doctors could certify patients for medical cannabis cards covering a range of qualifying conditions, including depression, chronic pain, nausea from cancer treatment and Parkinson’s disease, among others.
The committee’s approval moves the measure one step closer to a floor vote as the 2021 legislative session continues in Montgomery.