Skip to content

Tim Melson

News / Health / Legislature / State

Medical marijuana bill passes the Senate

Thursday, the Alabama Senate passed a bill that, if passed by the House and signed by the governor, would make Alabama the 34th state in the country to legalize medical marijuana. Senate Bill 165 was sponsored by State Senator Tim Melson, R-Florence. “This is a big step for Alabama,” Melson said. “But there is still … Continued
March 13, 2020

Senate Committee approves medical marijuana bill

Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee gave a favorable report to a bill that would allow Alabama residents to obtain medical marijuana on an 8 to 1 vote. Senate Bill 167 was sponsored by State Senator Tim Melson, R-Florence. SB165 would create a tightly regulated network of state-licensed marijuana growers, dispensaries, transporters, and processors. Patients would … Continued
February 20, 2020

McCutcheon is in “wait and see mode” on medical marijuana bill

Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives Mac McCutcheon (R-Monrovia) last Thursday was asked by reporters where he stood on pending medical marijuana legislation. “I am in a wait and see mode,” McCutcheon told reporters. “The sponsor of the bill has done a lot of work.” On Tuesday, State Senator Tim Melson (R-Florence) introduced a … Continued
February 17, 2020

Health Committee gives favorable report to bill to mandate vaccination reporting

Wednesday, the Senate Health Committee gave a favorable report to a bill that would require that all medical providers share their vaccination records with the State of Alabama. Senate Bill 56 is sponsored by State Senator Tim Melson (R-Florence) Sen. Melson said that SB56 would require medical providers to report vaccinations in the registry. “This … Continued
February 13, 2020

Medical marijuana legislation to be introduced this week

Thursday, State Senator Tim Melson (R-Florence) told the Alabama Political Reporter that he anticipates introducing his medical marijuana legislation on Tuesday. Melson said that he and the Alabama Legislative Services Agency were working on the final language in the bill. A key final sticking point is how businesses can deal with medical marijuana users in … Continued
February 10, 2020

RAMP expresses concerns with medical marijuana bill

Medical marijuana is one of the most controversial bills facing the Alabama legislature in the upcoming legislative session that begins next week. The Alabama Medical Cannabis Study Commission has produced a draft bill that addresses many of the concerns from law enforcement, employers, the business community, educators, farmers, and medical professionals. State Senator Tim Melson … Continued
January 29, 2020

Marshall opposes medical marijuana bill

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall (R) on Monday sent letters to state legislators urging them to oppose legislation that would allow approved medical providers to prescribe cannabis for patients they believe would benefit from it. Marshall expressed concerns about addiction to marijuana and worried that legalization of medical marijuana in the state would be similar … Continued
January 9, 2020

Alabama Medical Cannabis Study Commission approves draft bill

Friday, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Study Commission voted to recommend legislation that would legalize marijuana for persons with diagnosed medical conditions. The commission voted twelve in favor and three against. Three members abstained. State Health Office Scott Harris voted against the bill. The proposed bill would allow farmers to grow marijuana, doctors to prescribe marijuana … Continued
December 23, 2019

Medical Cannabis Study Commission to vote today

Today, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Study Commission will vote on whether or not to recommend legislation that would legalize marijuana for persons with diagnosed medical conditions. The proposed bill would allow farmers to grow marijuana, doctors to prescribe marijuana for certain listed conditions, transporters to transport the product, and dispensaries to sell the product. In … Continued
December 20, 2019

Medical experts sharply divided at Alabama Medical Cannabis Study Commission

Thursday, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Study Commission heard from two highly respected medical expert witnesses with widely divergent views on the wisdom of passing medical marijuana legislation. Bertha K. Madras is a professor of psychobiology in the Department of Psychiatry and the chair of the Division of Neurochemistry at Harvard Medical School, She served as … Continued
November 13, 2019