Republican Gov. Kay Ivey of Alabama signed a bill on Monday that legalizes the medicinal use of cannabis in the state. The measure, Senate Bill 46, was passed by the Alabama House of Representatives earlier this month after being approved by the state Senate in February. The Alabama medical marijuana legalization measure goes into effect immediately, although providers will have to be licensed by the state before legal medicinal cannabis sales begin.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey is still reviewing a medical marijuana bill that would allow registered patients with qualifying conditions to safely access and use medical cannabis. If Ivey signs the bill into law, Alabama would become the 37th state in the U.S. to legalize medical marijuana. Learn more in the video above.

After multiple failed attempts to legalise medical marijuana, this bill may finally get over the line – and soon.

Access to medical cannabis in Alabama is extremely limited. “Carly’s Law”, which was passed in 2014, permitted the University of Alabama at Birmingham to provide CBD oil to children with debilitating seizures as part of a clinical study. In 2016, “Leni’s Law” was passed to provide an affirmative defence to patients possessing CBD to treat certain debilitating conditions.

A senate bill to legalize medical marijuana in Alabama, SB 46, is now heading to the governor’s desk. 

The bill cleared its final hurdle in the state legislature on Thursday, when it passed out of the state House of Representatives by a vote of 68 to 34. The legislation passed out of the state Senate in February by a vote of 21 to 10.

The ball is now in Republican Gov. Kay Ivey’s court. A spokesperson for Ivey said that the governor would review SB 46.

The Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday approved a medical marijuana bill that would allow registered patients with qualifying conditions to safely access and use medical cannabis.

The Senate is expected to give its final approval and send it to Governor Kay Ivey, who will decide whether to sign it into law and make Alabama the 37th state in the U.S. to legalize medical marijuana.

This was the first time the Alabama House has considered a medical cannabis bill. Republican opponents of the bill used a filibuster to delay a vote on Tuesday.

More than a dozen conditions, including cancer, a terminal illness, depression, epilepsy, panic disorder and chronic pain, would be qualify a person for medical cannabis treatment.

Birmingham, Alabama Mayor Randall Woodfin announced on Tuesday that blanket pardons would be issued for cannabis convictions going back more than 30 years, giving up to 15,000 people even more reason to celebrate on 4/20. And in another move by state leaders to mark the high holiday, the Alabama Democratic Party called on lawmakers to legalize cannabis for both medical and recreational use.

In a statement from Woodfin, the mayor noted that Birmingham kicked off a Pardons for Progress program in 2019 that was designed to make it easier to have past cannabis convictions pardoned and the records sealed. But those eligible for pardons were required to apply for the relief and only nine convictions have been cleared since the program’s inception.

Legalization could mean millions of dollars for the states as the growth of the supply chain will open multiple opportunities.

The growth of medical marijuana has seen the trend of legalization and opening of new markets prevalent in recent years. Some states that were not leaning towards legalization have greater chances of success this year. More importantly, there is a big possibility for four traditionally red states to make the move to allow medical marijuana programs: Alabama, Kansas, Kentucky, and South Carolina.

A piece of legislation that would allow Alabama doctors to recommend medical marijuana for a number of ailments passed in the state Senate. But its future remains shaky.

There are plenty of legislators on both sides of the argument. But one state representative is arguing, morality plays the biggest role in the fight.

Senate Bill 46, also known as The Compassion Act, is a hot topic in the legislature. The bill has passed in the Senate for the past 2 years but it continues to stall in the House

Huntsville-area Representative Mike Ball said he’s not hopeful that will change this session.

“I don’t know something just keeps blocking it in the House, and it’s really puzzling to me.”

Medical marijuana shot through the Alabama Senate this week. But it's likely to slow to a crawl in the Alabama House of Representatives. 

House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, said on Thursday that the legislation would go through the House Judiciary and Health committees before any floor vote — an unusual maneuver that McCutcheon said reflected the questions members of the House had. 

“You’ve got the medical treatment component of the bill, and I think the Health committee needs to address those issues,” McCutcheon said. “The other issue is that we’re dealing with a drug that right now the federal government has not even put its stamp of approval on, although there’s been many states that have approved this for medical reasons.”

Medical marijuana sales bring in tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue each year to states where it is has been legalized and many doctors say it can treat a variety of conditions.

Alabama Senator Tim Melson (R-District 1) authored Senate Bill 46 which aims to find a place for medical marijuana in the state. If passed, it would allow residents to get cannabis cards for a variety of conditions.

Some of those conditions are: Anxiety or panic disorder, autism, Crohn's Disease, epilepsy or a condition causing seizures, Fibromyalgia, symptoms related to cancer or HIV/AIDS and many more.