Medical marijuana bill passes Legislature, heads to governor’s desk

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - The Alabama Legislature approved a medical marijuana bill Thursday, the farthest it’s ever gotten in the state’s legislative process.

The bill now heads to Gov. Kay Ivey for her signature into law.

The bill passed the House 68-34 earlier Thursday after changing it from the earlier version previously approved by the Senate. The Senate then accepted the revised bill 20-9 Thursday night.

After the Senate’s approval, Ivey’s office sent this statement: “As with any piece of legislation that reaches the governor’s desk, we look forward to thoroughly reviewing it. We apricate the debate from the Legislature on the topic. This is certainly an emotional issue. We are sensitive to that and will give it the diligence it deserves.”

The bill would make marijuana legal medical treatment for about 10 different medical conditions, including cancer, HIV/AIDS, autism and epilepsy. The House chamber took depression off of the list of medical conditions Thursday.

SB46 requires a doctor to sign off that the patient has a condition that qualifies under the law. And patients would be required to hold a special card saying they are clear to use marijuana for medical purposes. That card could cost as much as $65.

The bill also creates the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission to oversee how marijuana is grown.

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