Alabama House approves medical marijuana

The Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill that would legalize medical marijuana.

The House passed Senate Bill 46 by a vote of 68-34. The measure would allow a person with a qualifying medical condition to purchase medical marijuana at the recommendation of a doctor, according to the bill’s text. Purchasers would have to have a valid card for purchasing marijuana.

Among the long list of qualifying conditions outlined in the bill are anxiety or panic disorders, epilepsy, chronic pain, and even menopause or premenstrual syndrome.

Medical marijuana would be allowed in an oral tablet, capsule, transdermal patches or gels and creams. However, products administered by smoking or vaping would not qualify, neither would cannabis that is baked or mixed into food products like cookies or candies.

The Alabama Senate passed the bill by a 20-10 vote in February.

According to a local NBC affiliate, the Senate has to approve the bill one more time before it heads to Gov. Kay Ivey’s (R) desk.

The move comes on the heels of bipartisan support for medical marijuana after the prospects of it passing in the state became somewhat comical.

A Democratic bill introduced in 2013 to pass medical marijuana was given the “Shroud Award” that year, according to The Associated Press. The measure was touted as the “deadest” of the year.

State Rep. Patricia Todd (D), who sponsored that bill, said on Thursday that she was happy to see medical marijuana passed.

“They laughed at me,” Todd said, according to AP. “I’m glad to see it passed. It’s long overdue.”