Alabama: commission recommends legalizing medical cannabis

A commission in the state of Alabama, one of the last U.S. states without a medical cannabis program, and having not decriminalized cannabis, recommends legalizing it. Republican Senator Tim Melson, who chaired the committee, will introduce a bill in the Senate in February 2020.

Two-thirds of the committee members support it

Before voting 12 to 6 in favor of a proposal to legalize medical cannabis, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Study Commission released a report on its discussions and findings. The report says that even though the committee members« opinions were mixed and varied, there is broad consensus that hemp and cannabis can »significantly alleviate the symptoms of certain specific medical conditions.”.

Despite mixed opinions on the medical efficacy of cannabis, the commission struggled to find common ground on the issue of legalization itself. Opponents of legalization efforts raised a number of concerns, including cannabis use in the workplace, driving under the influence of cannabis, fears regarding underage use, and cannabis-related disorders.

Only three members of the study commission voted against the recommendation to proceed with a bill on the medical marijuana, with three others abstaining and 12 voting in favor.

A failure in 2019, a shift to 2020?

Alabama’s Medical Cannabis Study Commission was established after the bill failed to pass SB236, introduced by Senator Melson himself, before the House of Representatives in 2019. The bill, which had been approved by the Senate, would have launched the state’s medical cannabis program. However, the only part of the bill that the House passed was the creation of the aforementioned Commission.

In its report, the Commission outlines several objectives of the bill and highlights the restrictions. For example, it recommends banning medical cannabis in smokable form or edible products that resemble candy. It also recommends several measures to prevent the diversion of cannabis-based products, or to certify and train doctors.