Alabama’s legislature passed a bill this week that would legalize and regulate medical marijuana from seed to sale in the state.
The Senate Judiciary Committee had an overwhelming vote of 8-1, with one abstention, in favor of the bill by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence. Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Sheffield, voted no; Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, abstained.
The bill, which now moves to the full Senate for a vote, would make Alabama the 34th state to allow marijuana products for medical purposes.
It was last year that the Senate had approved a similar bill but it died in the House of Representatives. 2020 may be the winning year finally.
Melson, an anesthesiologist and medical researcher, said that the research and experiences in other states supports allowing medical cannabis products as an option for patients suffering from chronic pain, seizures, nausea, muscle spasms, and other debilitating symptoms of about 16 medical conditions was listed in the bill.
“I know some people are worried send a bad signal to the children,” Melson said before the start of a 90-minute hearing before the committee. “I think it’s sends a better signal that we’re willing to treat a condition where nothing else has worked.”