MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday passed SB 46, which would legalize the medicinal use of cannabis in the state of Alabama.

In a bipartisan 68-34 vote, the House passed the bill as substituted and amended; the measure now heads back to the Senate for expected concurrence, which would then advance the legislation to Governor Kay Ivey’s desk.

The medical marijuana bill is sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson (R-Florence) and was carried in the House by Rep. Mike Ball (R-Madison), a retired law enforcement officer.

“I think this is why the Lord sent me here,” Ball told reporters after passage of SB 46 on Thursday, the 29th and penultimate day of the 2021 regular session.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn