Many Fear Alabama Will Be Last State to Legalize Marijuana

Optimistic skepticism is in the minds of legal marijuana supporters in Alabama. Its position in the “Bible Belt” will make it a bit difficult. Some fear that Alabama will be the last state in the U.S. to legalize any form of marijuana.

While there is optimistic skepticism, advocates are being realistic about their efforts, according to AL.com.  Alabama is a very conservative state. It’s often behind trends throughout the U.S. However, other southern states are making progress with legalizing some form of marijuana, mostly CBD oils for medical purposes.

Loretta Nall, multiple organization marijuana advocator, said, “It will be legal here when the people force their elected officials to stop enforcing an obviously failed and disastrous policy. Having been an activist here and knowing how difficult it is to motivate enough people to make a difference. I’ll say that I don’t see it happening any time soon.”

What makes some scratch their heads is that there is marijuana research happening at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. The university is conducting studies regarding using marijuana to treat cancer and pain. The results, however, may help some lawmakers sway their own opinions a bit.

Dr. Bisakha Sen said, “I think there’s going to be an increasing sympathy. It would first get legalized for medicinal purposes. I would expect that in the next five years. Full legalization could come a few years later.”

Alabama does have Leni’s Law and Carly’s law, which allows for the use of CBD oil for seizure disorders. A few other conditions are taken into consideration, but the program is beyond severely limited for others that could benefit from medical marijuana. Leni’s Law decriminalized possession of cannabidiol (CBD).

Alabama Mother Earth Sustenance Alliance founder Jonah Tobin said, in response to a time table for further legalization in Alabama that, “I think we’re headed in that direction. Half the country now has medical marijuana. I think it’s inevitable.”

Ralph Hendrix, formerly of UAB Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities, said, “The benefit is we could concentrate on the killing drugs. The morality rates are horrible in Alabama because of the opiate epidemic. Marijuana has its disadvantages, like all drugs do. In terms of harm, it’s not as harmful as others. The positive far outweighs the negative.”