Medical marijuana needs more study, Alabama House speaker says

Medical marijuana is one of the remaining issues facing the Alabama Legislature as it moves into what could be its final week of the regular session.

The Senate passed a medical marijuana bill on May 9, but it has not advanced in the House.

The bill, by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, an anesthesiologist and medical researcher, would allow doctors to recommend medical marijuana to patients to treat pain, muscle spasms and other symptoms for a variety of conditions. It calls for the appointment of an Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission to oversee the issuance of medical cannabis cards and establish a patient registry. Melson said he believes medical marijuana could help reduce the problem of opioid addiction.

The House Health Committee will hold a public hearing on the bill at 10 a.m. today.

House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, said he believes the issue needs more study and expects lawmakers to appoint a committee to do that, rather than pass Melson’s bill in the form that left the Senate.

“It’s in the educational phase,” McCutcheon said last week. “Members are studying. We’re listening to the opponents and proponents on it. We’re gathering information. And that’s one reason that this study commission idea, I think, is going to be very significant.” [Read more at AL.com]