Medical Marijuana Legalization Status in Alabama
Governor Ivey signed SB 46 into law on May 17, 2021. That means medical marijuana is not presently available in the United States, it will be shortly. This bill establishes the Alabama Medical Cannabis Patient Registry, which will keep track of medical doctor certifications, patient registration, and medicinal card information, as well as the amounts and varieties of medical cannabis advised by certified cannabis doctors in Alabama. It will also keep track of the dates and amounts of goods purchased from dispensaries by a patient.
Patients will be able to keep their medicinal cannabis certifications for up to 12 months before having to renew them if they are still required. The state’s general fund and a new Medicinal Cannabis Research Fund will receive the 9 percent tax revenue from medical cannabis sales and any excess money going to the state’s general fund and a new Medical Cannabis Research Fund.
How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Alabama?
Here are the requirements you’ll need to consider in order to receive your medical cannabis card in Alabama:
1. You must be 19 years old or have a certified registered caregiver if you are younger.
2. You must have been diagnosed with one of the following qualifying conditions.
3. An Alabama Marijuana Card must be applied by a patient and accepted by a certified doctor.
Getting an MMJ card in Alabama has never been easier, thanks to KIF Doctors who provide a recommendation to their patients at low prices and with complete support. If you’re new to all of this, you’ll need help with the paperwork and registration, and we’ll make sure you get the help and information you need. In addition, here are some tips on how to get started with medical cannabis therapy. To receive an MMJ card without any hassle, make sure you follow the identical steps outlined below.
Schedule an appointment with an MMJ doctor
You will have to make an appointment to see a medical marijuana doctor in Alabama at a time that is most convenient for you. Fill out a brief medical history form and schedule an appointment with a registered medical marijuana physician. You’ll require medical records, necessary documents, and any qualifying condition that can be approved by the doctors.
Go through an MMJ Evaluation
Consult with a cannabis doctor in Alabama to assess your symptoms and ask any questions you may have about medicinal marijuana therapy. This is a crucial component in obtaining a medical marijuana license.
After the appointment, if you are authorized, the doctor will register you with the Commission if he certifies your need for medicinal marijuana. That registration application will include a Commission-created form as well as an application fee.
Obtain Your Certificate
Your application will be processed, you will be notified of your approval, and your card will be mailed to you. After receiving your card, you can start purchasing at dispensaries.
Patients in Alabama will need to recertify their license every year by seeing a licensed physician. When your certification is about to expire, the state health department will notify you a month or two earlier.
Qualifying Conditions that have been chosen for MMJ treatment
A registered certifying physician must diagnose the patient with at least one qualifying medical condition. Also, he can confirm that the qualifying patient has been medically diagnosed with at least one qualifying medical condition before issuing a physician certification. The rules for giving a Physician Certification to a patient will be established by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners (including the duration of the certification, which shall not exceed 12 months).
Act 2021-450, which was approved by the Legislature and signed into law by the governor earlier this year, will allow medicinal cannabis to be used to treat the following medical conditions once fully implemented:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Cancer-related cachexia, nausea or vomiting, weight loss, or chronic pain
- Crohn’s Disease
- Depression
- Epilepsy or a condition causing seizures
- HIV/AIDS-related nausea or weight loss
- Panic disorder
- Parkinson’s disease
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Spasticity associated with Multiple
- Sclerosis (MS) or a spinal cord injury
- A terminal illness
- Tourette’s Syndrome
- Multiple sclerosis or spinal cord damage can cause spasticity.
- Consistent nausea that does not respond well to conventional treatment. There are a few exceptions: Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, cannabis-induced cyclic vomiting syndrome, and nausea associated with pregnancy.
- A condition that causes persistent or intractable pain and for which opiate medication is either not recommended or has proven unsuccessful.
Anyone under the age of 19 must go through the same procedure. They’ll also need a designated caregiver who can acquire and administer the medication. The caregiver and the minor must be Alabama residents and registered with the state cannabis commission.
Details about Possession and Cultivation In Alabama
Marijuana for “personal use only” is a Class A misdemeanor in Alabama, punishable by up to a year in prison and a $6,000 fine. A subsequent conviction of marijuana for “personal use only” is a Class D felony punishable by a minimum term of one year and one day in prison and a maximum penalty of five years in prison plus a $7500 fine.
Marijuana possession for purposes other than “personal use” is a Class C felony punishable by a least one year and one day in prison and a maximum of ten years in prison, as well as a fine of up to $15,000.
Cultivation is punishable in Alabama as either simple possession or possession with intent to distribute, depending on the amount of marijuana produced and other factors that could lead to the judgment that the marijuana was grown for purposes other than strictly personal use.
A person who grows a marijuana plant for personal use at home might be charged with trafficking cannabis, which is a felony. Possessing any amount of processed cannabis, except for patients and caregivers, is a crime punishable by up to a year in prison or a $6,000 fine. Possession of marijuana for any reason other than personal use is a felony punishable by up to ten years in jail and a $15,000 maximum fine. Before the coronavirus was shut down in 2020, the Senate was ready to take up decriminalization.
CBD Oil Program
Under Len’s Law, which was passed in 2019 to legalize CBD oil containing up to 3 mg of THC, Alabama already has a formal CBD oil program. All CBD applications must be submitted to the University of Alabama Birmingham Neurology Department in order to be considered for the program.
A patient must be a resident of Alabama and have a physician’s referral letter based on a qualifying ailment to get a medical license for CBD. CBD oil prices vary depending on the type and dosage, and it can only be sold to CBD oil programme participants. Alabama citizens can lawfully obtain CBD oil with a prescription from a board-certified neurologist.
There are no restrictions on the selling of CBD products that contain less than 0.3 percent THC. Selling any cannabis product with more than the allowed level of THC is a felony punishable by two to twenty years in prison and a fine of up to $30,000. Cannabis sales to minors can result in a ten-year to life term and a possible $60,000 fine. CBD products are typically available in CBD-specific shops as well as wellness and health food stores. Pharmacies in Alabama are allowed to sell CBD products over the counter if they are derived from legal producers and contain less than 0.3 percent THC. CBD products can also be purchased online, usually through the website of a specific brand.
Required Documents for Obtaining an MMJ Card in Alabama
All you have to do is complete the registration procedure by following all of the state government’s instructions. To complete the process, you’ll need some documents.
For an MMJ evaluation in Alabama, you must provide certain documentation in addition to the application form. You must show proof of residence in Alabama. Passport, identification card, or driver’s license are such documents. To comply with government laws, proper documentation is required. If you have an MMJ card in Alabama, you can get marijuana medication, but you must follow all of the rules. The following guidelines are intended to ensure that marijuana medication is not utilized for any illicit purposes. As a result, while selecting a marijuana clinic, make sure to provide all required paperwork and adhere to the state’s policies.
Caregivers For Minors
Choosing a designated caregiver necessitates finding someone trustworthy. They should be willing to learn about the rules as well as the advantages and disadvantages of medical marijuana. They must be able to obtain it for the patient, either through an ordering process or by personally transporting it. In addition, the caregiver must meet the state’s eligibility standards.
A caregiver’s eligibility is determined by a number of variables. Caregivers must be at least 21 years old and may be required to undergo a background check, complete a certification course, and submit an application to the agency in charge of medicinal marijuana.
Patients under the age of 19 must have their medications picked up by a caregiver. Cultivation for both medical and recreational uses is prohibited in Alabama. If you’re caught cultivating marijuana, you could face criminal charges and fines.
Furthermore, the state is not currently issuing any form of cannabis cultivation company license. Medical cannabis legalization in Alabama is still in its infancy, but thousands of residents now have safe and legal access to medical cannabis, which has proven to alleviate specific diseases in Alabama.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans: Products that are permitted: Tablets\Capsules\Tinctures, Gels, oils, and creams for application on the skin, Suppositories, Patches that are applied to the skin, Nebulizers, and for use in an inhaler, liquids or oils.
Ans: Patients aged 19 and up with a qualifying condition may be eligible for a medical cannabis card that allows them to purchase the items. Parents and others who want to get the products for minors can register as caretakers.
Ans: Even if you have a medical marijuana card, the only safe place to consume cannabis is in your own home.
Ans: Yes, it is prohibited to distribute, possess, manufacture, or use medicinal cannabis or a medical cannabis product obtained from a registered qualified patient, a registered caregiver, or a licensed producer, processor, secure transporter, dispensary, or state testing laboratory.