Alabama legislature approves medical marijuana bill, sends it to governor

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – Alabama lawmakers have overcome years of opposition in approving medical marijuana legislation.

The House vote to pass the bill came Thursday after two days of long and emotional debate in which key Republican lawmakers described the change of sides in favor of the proposal.

The Alabama Senate later voted to accept changes in the House of Representatives and sent the legislation to Governor Kay Ivey for consideration.

The bill would allow people with a qualified illness to buy marijuana after getting a referral from a doctor.

A governor’s spokeswoman said she would carefully review the bill.

If approved by Ivey, Alabama would turn 37^th State to legalize cannabis for medicinal purposes, according to the National Conference of State Legislators.

Specifically, the Alabama bill would establish a system to regulate medical marijuana from growing plants to selling products at licensed pharmacies in up to 12 locations across the state. AL.com reports.

According to the local news agency, the medicinal pot could be prescribed to those with the following ailments: chronic pain, nausea and weight loss from cancer and HIV / AIDS, depression, chronic disease, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, autism, panic disorder, PTSD, sickle cell anemia, spasticity due to certain diseases or a spinal cord injury, Tourette’s syndrome, and incurable diseases.