Alabama authorizes medical marijuana program

Rep. Mike Ball (left) and Senator Tim Melson speak after the medical cannabis bill was passed in the House Chamber of the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama on Thursday, May 6, 2021.

(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)

Governor Kay Ivey signed and drafted SB46 on Monday a medical marijuana program in Alabama and allows the use of medical cannabis for approx. 15 diseases or illnesses, provided that certain requirements are met. Here’s what you need to know.

What’s new under this bill?

The Alabama Legislature passed law in 2014 (known as Carly’s Law), which allows for the limited use of cannabidiol (CBD) oil in conjunction with a UAB study of its effects on children with seizures. Two years later, CBD was decriminalized for those with seizures or debilitating illnesses (known as Leni’s Law), although that law specifically stated that it was not aimed at licensing medical marijuana. SB46, sponsored by Senator Tim Melson, R-Florence, is establishing a comprehensive medical cannabis program and a new facility called the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission to regulate it.

Which conditions are regulated in the law?

The law allows the use of medicinal cannabis for autism spectrum disorders; cancer-related weight loss, nausea, vomiting, and pain; Crohn’s disease; Depression; Epilepsy or a condition that causes seizures; HIV / AIDS-related weight loss or nausea; Panic disorder; Parkinson’s Disease; persistent nausea that “does not respond significantly to traditional treatment”, other than nausea related to pregnancy or medical conditions attributable to excessive marijuana use, post-traumatic stress disorder; Sickle cell anemia; Spasticity associated with diseases such as ALS, multiple sclerosis, or spinal cord injuries; incurable diseases; Tourette’s syndrome and chronic or persistent pain unresponsive to conventional or opiate therapy.

What are the terms of use?

A doctor – who must be certified to dispense medical cannabis – must certify that traditional therapies have not improved the patient’s condition. (Patients under the age of 19 must have a certified nurse.) Once the patient has certification, they must register with the state and apply for a medical cannabis card with an application fee of no more than $ 65. The patient can buy medicinal cannabis as soon as they receive a card.

Could a patient in Alabama smoke medical marijuana?

No. The law prohibits smoking, vaporizing, or consuming medical marijuana in baked goods. Medical cannabis could be consumed as tablets; Capsules; Gummy bear; Lozenges; topical oils; Suppositories; transdermal patch and in nebulizer or as a vaporized oil.

Does the law allow recreational marijuana use?

No.

How is medical cannabis grown?

The law allows up to 12 grower licenses in the state, subject to consultation with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. It requires that medicinal cannabis be grown in safe, closed facilities. The law also allows up to four processing licenses to turn the cannabis into consumable products.

Where is cannabis sold?

Up to 12 pharmacies across the state (three per license holder) could be set up, although local governments would have to vote to allow pharmacies within their borders. The pharmacies would sell quantities of medicinal cannabis but would be limited to advertising, signage and displays.

When will medical marijuana be available in Alabama?

It is not very clear. There are a few steps to be taken first, including appointing members of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (appointments must be made before July 1). The Commission needs to develop procedures for the distribution of medical cannabis. Procedures to train doctors to dispense medical cannabis must be in place by December 1.

Licenses for various steps in the production and distribution process would be available from September 1, 2022, and those interested in growing marijuana would have to demonstrate within 60 days of receiving the license that they can start growing. Melson and Rep. Mike Ball, R-Madison, have suggested that patients could be given medicinal cannabis in the fall of 2022.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Alabama just approved medical marijuana. Here’s what you should know.

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