Medical Marijuana Bill Clears Alabama House Committee

A medical-marijuana bill has been advanced by a committee in the Alabama House of Representatives, but probably too late for a vote to take place in the full legislature, the Montgomery Advertiser reported April 8.

The Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act — named for a man with a brain tumor who used marijuana for pain relief prior to his death in 2007 — was sponsored by Rep. Patricia Todd. It passed the committee with just five days left in the current legislative session.

The measure would allow individuals with illnesses like cancer, AIDS, MS, fibromyalgia, and chronic pain to legally use the drug for medical reasons.