Alabama finally has a medical marijuana law — of sorts — after Governor Kay Ivey on Monday signed the bill into law.
Ivey signed the bill into law 11 days after its approval by the Alabama Legislature. A three-year effort to pass the law finally found success.
The Governor expressed interest in the “potential good medical Cannabis can have for those with chronic illnesses,” adding ”it has the potential to “improve the quality of life of those in their final days.”
The new law, SB 46, allows use of medical marijuana for about 15 different conditions. These include cancer, motor neuron disease, depression, autism, and sickle-cell anemia.
Patients seeking medical Cannabis need a recommendation from an Alabama physician. Authorizing physicians must attest traditional therapies have not worked. Patients must register with the state and obtain a medical Cannabis card. The cards will cost no more than $65.
Twelve designated locations will grow marijuana, and 12 other locations will sell it. The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission will select the locations.
Most patients are limited to no more than 50 total milligrams of THC per day. Patients under 19 years old must be accompanied by parents to pick up their Cannabis.
The law bans smoking, vaping or Cannabis-infused baked goods. Medical marijuana will be in the form of tablets, capsules, gummies or vaporized oils. Oddly enough, all cannabis gummies must have a single flavor. This was supposedly to make them less tempting to kids.
The law does not allow recreational marijuana.
