This week an Alabama Senate committee has approved a bill that would allow the use of medical marijuana in certain cases.
Sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, the bill would authorize the use of medical marijuana for a range of conditions that include addiction and chronic pain and depression and schizophrenia.
A physician would have to give the patient a prescription and there would need to be a second opinion from a specialist in their field.
“This is not going to be the first line of defense in the treatment of a disease,” said Melson. “It will be one of several down the road, and we want to make sure all physicians are compliant with that, making sure they’ve tried several therapies before they resort to this.”
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the bill 6 to 2. It now goes to the full Senate.
Clay Hammac, director of the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force, said, “This is the first step into recreational use,” he said. “That may not be the position of the committee, but that is the optics for constituents.”
