Medical marijuana bill now medical marijuana commission bill

It’s not medical marijuana. But it’s a start. 

An Alabama House committee Wednesday approved a bill that would establish a commission to develop legislation and regulations for medical cannabis – a step back from a much more ambitious Senate version, but one that is more likely to the pass the House. 

“It’s at a point where we can all work with it,” said Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, the sponsor of the bill. “It’s a big step and everybody is stepping out of their comfort zone.
House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, said after the vote there was a “good possibility” the bill would be on the floor of the House on Thursday.

The bill originally would have allowed patients suffering from a dozen conditions – including opioid addiction; cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder – to use medical marijuana if they had the recommendation of two physicians and if other remedies failed to work. The patient would need a special card to get medical cannabis, which would cost $65 a year. 

The measure passed the Senate 17 to 6 earlier this month but ran into opposition in the House over questions of dosage and enforcement. Supporters said last week they expected the bill to be altered to protect an ongoing UAB study of cannabidiol (CBD) oil and replace the authorization with a commission that would develop regulations and propose model legislation by December. 

The committee adopted those changes Wednesday. The bill will establish a 15-member commission, consisting of at least four physicians – one with experience in pain management; a pediatric neurologist, an oncologist and one who works in palliative care; a district attorney, a criminal defense attorney and an attorney who specializes in employment law; a licensed pharmacist and a mental health or substance abuse counselor. 
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