Alabama Medical Marijuana Bill Fails in Committee

By: William Grimm

The Alabama Medical Marijuana Patients Rights Act (HB2), authorizing medical use of marijuana for certain qualifying patients, sponsored by State Representative Patricia Todd (D-Birmingham), has once again been rejected by the Health Committee of the Alabama House of Representatives.

Voting 12-2 against the bill, the Committee was not persuaded by Todd’s assertion that the bill was not an attempt at backdoor drug legalization. “That’s not what we’re talking about,” Todd said.

“This is actually the most effective way that most people who have cancer or other diseases digest marijuana.”

Todd has introduced similar legislation in the past, and she told an Alabama newspaper that she feels like she’s making some progress on the issue.

“We knew that they were going to defeat the bill, but we got two affirmative votes, and I think we raised the possibility that they will look at this closely and that we need to continue to study it,” she said.

Undeterred by their failure, Todd and her supporters intend to reintroduce a similar bill in the future.

“I’m just asking please, please, please give us a chance to look at this seriously and from a medical perspective so we can provide some relief to people that are really hurting,” Todd said.

Tenth Amendment Center communications director Mike Maharrey said he was disappointed with the vote, but praised Alabama lawmakers for resisting the urge to defer to the feds and taking up the issue.

“It’s a shame that people who can find real relief through the medicinal use of marijuana won’t have that opportunity in Alabama,” he said. “But this is where the issue needs to be decided. In Alabama, not Washington D.C. I commend Long for championing the cause, and the Alabama legislature for taking up the issue. It’s none of Washington’s business. Its a decision for the people of Alabama, and all of the other states in the Union.”

ACTION ITEMS

You can track state-level marijuana legislation HERE.

Also, be sure to contact Representative Todd to thank her for introducing this important bill and to urge her to continue her efforts.

Representative Patricia Todd, Democrat, District 54 Alabama House of Representatives State House Room 539-E 11 S. Union Street Montgomery, AL 36130 (334) 242-7718 [email protected] www.patriciatodd.com