Alabama GOP governor signs medical marijuana bill into law
Alabama Republican Gov. Kay Ivey signed into law on Monday a bill legalizing medical marijuana in the state.
Ivey called SB 46, dubbed the “Darren Wesley ‘Ato’ Hall Compassion Act,” an “important first step” and thanked state Sen. Tim Melson and state Rep. Mike Ball, who co-sponsored the legislation in their chambers, for their hard work to address what she called “legitimate concerns.”
“This is certainly a sensitive and emotional issue and something that is continually being studied,” Ivey said in a statement. “On the state level, we have had a study group that has looked closely at this issue, and I am interested in the potential good medical cannabis can have for those with chronic illnesses or what it can do to improve the quality of life of those in their final days.”
How High Are Taxes on Recreational Marijuana in Your State?
The unique legal framework under which marijuana use and sales operate that of differing state and federal legality means that every state market is essentially a siloed market.
The legalization and taxation of recreational marijuana remains one of the hottest trends in state taxation. Currently, 16 states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, and Washington) and the District of Columbia have passed bills or approved ballot measures that allow for the sale of recreational marijuana, and more states are poised to pass legislation this session. In total, actual recreational marijuana sales are happening in 11 states.
Many elected officials, however, have hesitated to follow suit. And even in a year when cannabis boosters saw big, broad wins on recreational legalization in places like New York and New Jersey, some states that have embraced full prohibition remain firmly planted.
“Every state that does not already have a medical marijuana law had something introduced” this year, said Karen O’Keefe, director of state policies for pro-legalization group Marijuana Policy Project. “Most of them have died.”
Still, the progress in some Republican-controlled state capitals suggests a shift away from the hardline positions long held by social conservatives and have buoyed the pro-marijuana movement. The final weeks of legislative sessions could bring more wins for advocates.
(Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Conservative states are finally moving closer to the legalization of marijuana. As more states pass legislation decriminalizing or fully legalizing the plant for recreational use, red states have been the primary holdouts.
However, recent indications suggest that attitudes toward pot are softening among conservative Americans and Republican politicians. According to a Politico report published on Sunday:
Medical marijuana bills are advancing in the Republican-controlled legislatures of North Carolina, Alabama, and Kansas for the first time. Efforts to expand limited medical programs in bedrock conservative states like Texas and Louisiana also appear close to passage.