The medical marijuana question is one that has drawn a lot of supporters and very few vocal opponents.
The sponsor of a legalization bill in the Alabama State House, State Representative Mike Ball (R-Madison), says this may be the year to get this bill passed.
During an appearance on WVNN’s “The Dale Jackson Show,” Ball spent some time dismissing what he called “misinformation” about his bill.
Ball believes that the people “afraid” of the bill are basing it on the fact that marijuana has been “abused for many, many years” and the perception that it will be abused if made legal “has kept block the ability of medical researchers and people who figured out how to use this in the way that I believe God intended this to be used.”
Ball wants people to view this bill as a continuation of his previously-passed CBD oil bills that he believes has helped many in the state of Alabama with seizures and other ailments. He says this bill will help alleviate pain for those suffering from various ailments while keeping this from being a way for people to abuse the system to effectively make this quasi-recreational marijuana legislation.
Stating the fears are way overblown, Ball says he believes those that are concerned about people abusing medical marijuana to get high are misinformed on the bill and while there will be intoxicants, it will be highly-regulated.
Ball believes that this bill puts the onus on doctors to describe the right medication for the right ailment and with the right dosage. Ball adds the risks are far less than with addictive prescriptions medications, “through this regulation — it would be highly regulated — the potential for abuse is less, much less I think, than the system that we have with our diploids and stuff.”
Ball truly thinks he can make this happen.
“Quite frankly, we had the votes to get this done in 2019 when we first did it before we even had the commission,” he said Wednesday. “I believe the votes are there, they were there, they’ve always been there.”
My takeaway:
The heavy-lift here for Ball and State Senator Tim Melson (R-Florence) is to convince opponents of marijuana that this is not a step towards recreational marijuana being legalized.
Until that happens this bill will face some opposition but the momentum is clearly moving in the direction Representative Ball wants.
Listen:
Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 7-11 AM weekdays on WVNN.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.