It’s crunch time for Alabama legislators with lottery, casinos, and medical marijuana at stake

House spokesman Mac McCutcheon said Thursday he expects a plan for a lottery and six new Alabama casinos to be voted on before the May 17th legislature ends.

McCutcheon spoke to reporters Thursday after the House concluded its meetings for the week. Legislators return on Tuesdays and Thursdays and take a week off before the last day.

“We have three days left so we are in crisis,” said McCutcheon. “But I think there’s a chance you might see it on the floor.”

The Senate approved the gambling legislation on April 13. McCutcheon said lawmakers were working on changes. Governor Kay Ivey was involved. Representatives were given copies of the revised bills to study over the weekend, the spokesman said. The bills still have the main elements of the plan that the Senate approved, he said.

This plan would use the lottery revenue for education and college scholarships to meet the needs of the state workforce. Four casinos would be located on the Greyhound Tracks in Birmingham, Macon County, Greene County and Mobile. You would be in a bingo facility in Dothan. The sixth would be in DeKalb County or Jackson County in northeast Alabama in a location selected by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

The proposal would require the governor to negotiate a contract with the Poarch Creeks that would allow the tribe to offer the full range of casino games at their resorts in Atmore, Wetumpka and Montgomery, which now only offer electronic bingo. That would be a total of nine casinos.

The plan would enable sports betting in casinos and online. Tax revenue and royalties from the casinos would be used to expand high-speed internet access across the state, health care, mental health care, and other programs set out in law that included multiple bills.

Overall, the plan is expected to raise about $ 500 to $ 700 million per year or more for government programs.

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The voters would have the final say on whether to approve the plan in a constitutional amendment.

Two members of the Republican House said Thursday it was too late in the session to ponder such important legislation. Reps Rich Wingo of Tuscaloosa and Reed Ingram of Montgomery said the house should have public hearings. They said the fact that representatives will only have a few days to review the final draft of the bills is worrying.

“I think that’s terrible,” said Wingo. “That doesn’t represent people well.”

McCutcheon said the game bills could be viewed as Thursday or the last day of the meeting.

Medical marijuana is another topic that is still pending.

A bill to legalize and regulate medical marijuana products from growing the plants to selling them to patients in pharmacies is pending final approval.

McCutcheon said he was expecting a vote on the bill that the Senate passed.

“At this point, I have a hard time guaranteeing a schedule and telling you exactly what day each bill may or may not be on the floor,” McCutcheon said. “But just like the game bill, I can say that we expect it to be put to the vote.”

The medical marijuana bill, which is not on the list the house is scheduled to examine Tuesday. McCutcheon said he expected a close vote when it comes time.

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Alabama would be the 37th state to legalize medical marijuana the National Conference of State Legislators.

Senator Tim Melson, R-Florence’s bill would allow physicians to recommend medicinal cannabis products to patients with a variety of symptoms and conditions, including chronic pain, seizures, weight loss and nausea due to cancer, muscle spasms due to certain diseases. PTSD, depression and others. The bill would establish a domestic system for licensed companies to produce, test, transport, and sell the products that would be taxed in support of the program.

A bill banning transgender therapies for anyone under the age of 19 could also become law in the last few days. Legislators heard from supporters and opponents of the law at several public hearings. The bill would make it a crime to provide drugs or hormones to block puberty to minors with gender dysphoria.

Proponents of the law say it is designed to protect children who are not mature enough to make life-changing decisions.

But opponents of the bill including parents and transgender youth have held State House rallies Denouncing efforts to criminalize treatment options for young people who are already at increased risk for depression and suicide. They say drugs are only prescribed according to established protocols that include full advice and approval from mental health professionals.

McCutcheon said there could be a vote on the bill before the end of the session, but no certainty.

“I can’t talk about it as firmly as we can about the gaming bill and medical marijuana, but it’s being considered,” said McCutcheon.

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