Many traditionally write off the Southern United States as an area dead to cannabis law reform, but one Representative is behind a new effort that can change all of that.
This week, Rep. Patricia Todd (D-Birmingham) has introduced House Bill 550, the Alabama Cannabis and Hemp Reform Act of 2013. This measure would legalize the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and the cultivation of up to 12 mature marijuana plants by those over the age of 21. It would also authorize the Department of Revenue to establish marijuana retail outlets. You can read the full text of the measure here.
As many of you have seen, yesterday, Pew Research released new polling data that revealed, for the first time in data from a US based polling firm, that Americans support legalizing marijuana by over 50%. The survey found that 52% support legalization and only 45% were opposed. This is no longer just an issue relegated to states such as those on the West Coast and Colorado, traditionally considered bastions of marijuana law reform, this support is now nationwide.
As it very well should be, marijuana prohibition is a failed policy that squanders hundreds of millions of tax dollars a year, inversely affects society’s underprivileged, violates civil liberties, and fuels a violent, criminal black market responsible for countless deaths on our border as well as our local communities.
If states such as the traditionally conservative Alabama are beginning the discussion around alternatives to our failed prohibition of marijuana, the collapse of the drug war machine and its war on a green plant cannot be too far behind.
ALABAMA: If you live in Alabama click here to easily write your Representative and urge him or her to support this legislation!
Excellent –
thanks largely to Team NORML.
It’s good to see my fellow Southern states might finally be opening their eyes on the blatant stupidity of marijuana prohibition. Being a smoker from Texas, I understand since everything is bigger in Texas, the ignorance of said prohibition is bigger as well. It’s good to know, however, that a gulf state is taking a stand to fight senseless oppression. So many people have bullied Mary Jane for far too long on this playground we call America. Kudos to Alabama for at least trying to fight back.
It’s about time. We’re getting there, Slowly but surely.
Please take this initiative under consideration. Look at what good it can do and the people and jobs it will help and create. Step back from the old thinking and look at this from the a new perspective. If it was as bad as the old thinking, why is it SO popular and in the headlines EVERY day? Besides, we are adults and can think for ourselves. We know right from wrong, and you, as part of the government are WRONG for trying to tell us as taxpaying citizens what we can and cannot put in our bodies. We DO NOT drink alcohol and we stay home most of the time so what is wrong with smoking something to help glaucoma, PTSD, and Multiple Sclerosis. All have been proven by the same government that pays YOU, to improve the symptoms of each of these things we live with every single day.
The south shall rise again!
Good luck Alabama! The ‘war’ on drugs and the prohibition of marijuana has been an failure.
“If states such as the traditionally conservative Alabama are beginning the discussion around alternatives to our failed prohibition of marijuana, the collapse of the drug war machine and its war on a green plant cannot be too far behind.”
–Music to my ears.
“As it very well should be, marijuana prohibition is a failed policy that squanders hundreds of millions of tax dollars a year, inversely affects society’s underprivileged, violates civil liberties, and fuels a violent, criminal black market responsible for countless deaths on our border as well as our local communities.”
This seems grammatically incorrect. Otherwise great article, I hope it passes!
We’ll see how far this goes, hope it passes, just like hoping it passes for all states to legalize. Just hope and pray corrupted idiots don’t cockblock the bill because their pockets are being filled by big corps…
Yes!!! This gives me hope for my home state (Tennessee.) Time to vote out the Southern Baptists and finally make some progress in the south.
Allowance of one ounce and the cultivation of 12 plants? Those numbers need major tweaking.
Congratulations on the bill and hoping it goes through. All our support, Marijuana Party of Canada.
I feel marijuana should be legalized for medical purposes, like in my case of crippling Arthritis (RA) I am 62 yrs old and had joint replacements for both hips,shoulder,knee,and in constant pain. I have smoked marijuana and it does more for my pain than Lortabs or other medications the Drs. have given me…
Great idea but has as much chance as a snowball in Hell.
Legalize marijuana in alabama and all states please.
I swear to god if this happens in Alabama before my state … I am going to shoot myself.
Alabama? Was the bill written in crayon?
No no no we the State of Alabama must continue to ruin and destroy more lives, because ruined and destroyed people will fill up more churches! Ahhhhh!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ashtrays-heartbreaks-feat./id632362728?i=632363056 here is your anthem when it’s legal
Kohl your a moron.
Good work Norml can,t do without you again thanks and god bless you.
A reckoning is coming.
1 This is not the first bill on this issue in Alabama. 2 People who live in cities like Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery, and Huntsville, places where these reforms are welcomed, are very different form people living in other places in AL. The bill will never pass. 3 People who push for social change in AL are usually religious themselves so bashing religion doesn’t really help their cause.
Please consider this bill not just for recreational use but think of the medicinal benefits. Cannabinoids have been proven to assist with the reduction of seizures and if it becomes legal the amount of research that can be done could possibly alleviate a child with epilepsy. GO NORML
Texas people are the worst. You’re not a southerner, you’re from the west.
Uh, guys, Alabama is a lot more educated than the stereotypes say… Rednecks love their ganja, it’s the intellectual/religious conservatives that will oppose this bill. Call the representatives!
Will go nowhere, sadly. Will be referred to committee, and never have a chance of emerging. The medical mj bills under a Democratic legislature went nowhere the last few years, it will only be worse under the Republican legislature. I guess it’s nice someone introduced it anyway.
Sorry but my state is stuck in the 19th century,This will die a quick death and Alabama will be one of the last to pass anything this Liberal even if it made the state millions…
Alabama? I guess cows do give beer after all. Seriously, I’m glad for them. Guess I’m gonna have to give my Rep another call.
Amen. Finally people are realizing the stupidity of prohibition and the need for potential medical Marijuana patients.
Good effin luck. We can’t get BINGO legalized here, and you can’t buy beer on sundays in shelby county.
I havent smoked since 2003, but I def agree that it should be legalized. There is alot of good that come out of it. When I used to smoke, it made me study harder in school, work harder at my job and I nvr messed up or got hurt. Even if its legalized I will still not smoke it but I agree it IS A GOOD IDEA!
Here in HI we are extremely jealous. We can’t even get a decrim bill to pass…forget regulation and legalization.
Like dominoes, the fed has to wake up and deregulate soon.
The feds cannot enforce Prohibition without the states. They just don’t have enough psychopathic agents. So as the states restore our liberty, the federal government will have to back down.
And maybe one day, when Obama is just a bad memory, we will elect a president who will overturn Nixon’s unconstitutional acts.
Most states are just waiting to see the federal response to Wash. and Colo. As it is, I believe that one more state should be just about enough momentum to start an avalanche of support for legalization nationwide.
Give this part of the planet the right to grow a green herb and man the dominion and freedom to grow and to do as free will just and 0% tolerance to the other mess that kills for GODS sake keep it real. Thanks NORMAL and may GOD BLESS
This is great news….even though it has little chance of going anywhere for now. There are so many wonderful and brilliant people in Alabama…far more than most people think. Maybe, just maybe they will legalize it and show the world just how great they really are
People only look at the benifits of smoking it and selling it what about medical properties.. What about all natral fuel sorce and all the natraul resources like rope fuel clothes fwater filters and more
People only look at the benifits of smoking it and selling it what about medical properties.. What about all natral fuel sorce and all the natraul resources like rope fuel clothes fwater filters and more
If everyone in favor would contact their representatives letting them know that if it doesn’t get to a full vote they won’t be reelected, it would at least have a chance.
It is just a matter of time before all states legalize.I think that there will be states that hold out even after it is legal on a federal level.At least for a few years after they run out of money completely.
@Mike – If you live in friggin’ Virginia, you may as well pull the trigger and get it over with… The politicians here are complete idiots as far as I’ve been able to discern.
think of the solution to over crowding of our prisons
Marijuana has been endorsed by the cancer society as a valid cancer drug. It also has worked as an anti cancer medication. It also cures kidney disease. It stops seizures. Helps pain. It’s the only drug that you can’t overdose on. Safe without harmful side effects. This will bring millions of $$$ from the revenue if ever legalized. There are many high paying jobs in which come from the medical industry alone. If this bill passes in Alabama, get ready for state growth. You will have so many Georgians moving to Alabama. I’m one who will move. Alabama wouldn’t have a foreclosure problem any more. There are over 20, 000 products made from hemp. 2500 of them are every day products. These are all products we buy everyday but China makes them now. We need marijuana reform now. Vote yes for medical marijuana!
States vying for medical marijuana legislation / legalization
ought to ALSO be pressing for BOTH
medical and recreational re-legalization,
as the bill introduced by Rep. Patricia Todd,
(D – Birmingham), of Alabama does:
Have read all of HB 550 several times over and see that this
is a step in the right direction for Alabama…
Both for those who have medical conditions
which could benefit from the phyto-compounds present in botanical cannabis preparations,
as well as for adults who wish to choose a SAFER relaxant than alcohol,
(minus the harsh, medieval legal consequences of Alabama’s present draconian, outdated, antiquated marijuana prohibition laws).
Full text of Alabama HB 550, introduced Thurs-4-Apr-2013,
the Alabama Cannabis and Hemp Reform Act of 2013.
http://legiscan.com/AL/text/HB550/id/811532/Alabama-2013-HB550-Introduced.pdf
– – – – – – –
VALID FOR MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL:
An example of an already-legal drug that has both
recreational and medical uses is caffeine.
RECREATIONAL:
Includes beverages prepared from caffeine-bearing botanicals,
such as coffee seeds, cocoa seeds and tea leaves,
as well as those containing addition of caffeine alkaloids,
such as colas, soft drinks and energy drinks.
MEDICAL:
These range from over-the-counter alertness pills
containing only caffeine, (i.e. No-Doz, Vivarin), to OTC
/ prescription medications employed for migraine headache relief,
improving pulmonary and cardiovascular function, utilizing the pharmacological
properties of caffeine and caffeine analogues,
(theophylline, specifically),
alone or in combination with other compounds,
such as ergotamine, acetyl-salicylic acid and / or acetaminophen.
You lucky guys.. Romanian people envy you 😛
Hi Burny, you’re right of course, but there is a belief among many “conservatives” that damaging the government and stopping it from functioning correctly is the way to get to “reform”. They call it “staving the beast”, but then they are the ones insisting the government behaves like a “beast” in the first place. I’m starting to think most mainstream Republicans are there just to make “false flag” situations for US to deal with.
Their War on Marijuana is the perfect example. ‘Rebublicans’ talk about Government Waste as if it were a problem, and the insist on it. They say they are “concerned about our health”, but are fighting to allow more pollution in our air, water and food. So following their horrid logic we put people in jail for using a plant and make pollution manufactures super rich. Lets see, pollution actually kills people by the thousands and reduces life quality, marijuana no. But which side do these fools find themselves on? They fight for pollution and against regulations, those every things that would actually help keep us safe. Stupid and evil.
We need more Ron Paul’s to keep these weasels semi-honest.
You should be happy…I live in KS and I GUARANTEE my state will be dead last to legalize. The one thing though that gives me “comfort” is that there is a bill at the federal level that will allow states to decide on their own if they want to legalize because it will be legal at the Federal level as long as its legal at the state level. The best part is it has the support of Nancy Pelosi of all people!! She made the comment that it might as well be regulated and taxed. This bill will put the enforcement of Marijuana policy with the ATF by renaming it to the Buraus of Alcohol,Tobacco,Marijuana, And Firearms…
The tide is changing our way faster now than ever, but I hold little hope for Kansas…
Another monstrous obstacle we have to overcome is the fact that we are part of an United Nations International Treaty, so dont think this is almost over yet…
Dont get me wrong..I DEARLY want my weed to be freed, but we still have a struggle ahead of us.
POST ALL AROUND THE INTERNET EVERYWHERE YOU GO TO MAKE 420 THIS YEAR THE BIGGEST WEED SMOKING? SESSION EVER TO TAKE PLACE ON PLANET EARTH — COPY AND PASTE THIS EVERYWHERE YOU GO EVERY WEBSITE EVERY FORUM EVERY WEBPAGE IN ALL CAPS SO IT GETS SEEN EVERYWHERE –
– LEGALIZE CANNABIS AND EVERY ASPECT OF THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY – FREE ALL PRISONERS INCARCERATED FOR CANNABIS
@ Dave Evans
I agreed with everything you said until you mentioned Ron Paul. He has no interest at all in regulating the polluters. I’m sure he’d say that as entrepreneurs they have the god-given right to pollute. Besides, it helps their profit margins.
Regarding weed, we got a taste of Paul’s true feelings last week when he said he wouldn’t promote it. Had Pelosi said that same thing a couple of weeks ago, the howling on these boards would still be going on. (Paul only supports legalization because he opposes virtually anything that has to do with the government.)
Hey,
We here in Australia, blindly followed the US into the War on Drugs, as we did with many things. Culture, TV, food, corporat eetc etc Now that the US is waking up and changing its laws, we’re left with the legacy of all these laws.
Hopefully, when the US changes its laws at Federal level, in about 2018, then in about 2028, Australia will update its laws.
You heard it here first ok.
WTF.
I think it should be legalize for the tax money like Willie Nelson said on national T.V. that it would solve the money problems or dang sure help .. so that’s why I think it should be, and I don’t even do it. Thanks
@Jenna – I wonder why you stopped smoking marijuana even though it sounds as though it was a very positive thing in your life until 2003.
Perhaps it is because you now use a vaporizer or consume it via edibles… Just wondering…
@ Evening Bud, yeah, Ron Paul isn’t so hot on several issues. However, he is correct in some cases over regulation is killing business in this country. He is an honest voice in a crowd of cretins. Of course his no regulations is a bad idea, and will not get over the ground. But like with marijuana prohibition, both Dems and Repubs seem to think the public is theirs to heap more and more debt there upon. We have to pay for bad social policy, badly fought wars with vague goals, subsidizing polluters, bad regulations, Policing the World, etc…
Seriously, if Ron’s ideological opponents can’t figure out what should be cut and what shouldn’t, they aren’t fit.
Does anyone here really feel our government is too small?
http://www.ammjc.org/2013/04/05/sign-the-online-petition-for-hb-550-the-alabama-cannabis-and-hemp-reform-act-of-2013/#.UWgdnLWLZ6n
I can’t think of anything less “Bama” than leading the east coast in this progressive endeavor. Lead the way Alabama. I saute you.
Way to go Alabama…. I live about 10-15 miles from the Bama line and if they pass this law I will move there and start paying my state taxes there.
@ Dave Evans,
I understand what you’re saying. However, which govt programs to cut are often in the eye of the beholder. That elderly person or that one living on the edge of poverty might have a few things to say about what money should be cut. That corporation, which pays no taxes, would undoubtedly also have a few things to say. Every Senator it seems wants to cut the funding for the other guy’s state.
My conservative mother-in-law tends to begrudge others their checks; then cashes her own without a second thought.
To think, just a dozen short years ago, we actually had a surplus instead of a deficit. (Seems so long ago.) But, you’ll recall, Alan Greenspan, that guru of supply side economics, told us, “Hey, it’s actually not good to have a surplus. It’s actually better to run the economy on a deficit.” Then GW happily gave away or else spent all the bucks; then proceeded to run up a record debt, which we still haven’t been able to solve. (At least the billionaires are happy.)
Future historians will look back on these times and laugh or shake their heads. “What fools these mortals be . . . ”
Regarding Paul, I’m afraid we have different opinions. I understand that fewer regulations can sometimes (often) help a company’s bottom line or profit margin. However, I like the idea that somebody is inspecting them, and making sure they’re not selling us salmonella-tainted food; or dumping oil in my town’s reservoir. Somehow I just don’t trust the companies to “regulate themselves.”
Take Care, E. Bud
I live in the south and will also be moving to Alabama if it passes. If not, I guess another marijuana friendly state will get my taxes.
I hope you like this video my friend and I made about legalizing marijuana!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE
GO ALABAMA GOOO!!!!!!!!!!
One of the first and foremost concerns with the legalization of marijuana is obviously the money involved. Money is major factor because America can go one of two ways with this, they can either lose money or make money. Which do you think they will most likely go for? “Almost every year 872,000 arrests relate to marijuana and 775 of them are for possession; thats a ton of YOUR taxes going to the war on drugs.” (About.com, White 1). Other than ridding of pointless convictions, taxing marijuana would serve as a very liable way for the government and the public to earn money. The United States can literally take money from organized crime and give it back to the American people. This will in turn cut down organized crime and street related charges from the drug. Many people believe this is the best advantage to legalizing marijuana. Regulating marijuana much like alcohol and tobacco will produce mass amounts of income for the American people. “Then selling the product at exactly the same price as on the street today ($10 per gram) could raise $40 billion to 100$ billion in new revenue.”(Easton 1). There is no denying that taxing marijuana will produce major tax revenues as research has shown marijuana to be the leading cash crop in America.
And then, it died in committee, surprising absolutely no one. Thank you, TaliBaptists! The ongoing pursuit of Baptist Sharia law continues unabated, while people suffer.
http://www.ammjc.org/2013/04/23/house-bill-550-tabled-in-committee/
It would so help in a lot of ways and taxes would be going to the state instead of put those people in jail and put money back in the state I think it would be the best thing that could happen marijuana has never put anyone in the hospital cause of a wreck or overdose. Make it legal be our state out of this bind we are in thanks
Too many people at the sheriff departments and county courthouse who make too much money from present laws ,
I don’t smoke marijuana anymore, but I totally think they should legalize it for SO many reasons. The main reason being that they could regulate it, and have good quality weed with medicinal properties. Different strains = different medicinal purposes. I don’t see how these anti-marijuana extremists think that marijuana is bad, yet think it’s perfectly ok for people to take oxycontin, xanax (benzos can take YEARS to withdraw from), percocet, etc. Anyone ever known someone that went to a methadone clinic? Nasty sight isn’t it? They allow that to go on but say pot is bad? Not very bright if you ask me. LEGALIZE IT ALREADY!!!
Why is Alabama the poorest state when the opportunity to take in a new source of taxes available to help. What is holding back this state. Alphabetically we are 1st. Now lets be step up….Heck Washington DC has medical marijuana outlets. It is something many people want to see this as reality. My Grandmother, who was close to 93 when she passed, stated that she would rather see people smoke then drink alcohol. She lost her children to alcohol. Yet the most destructive substance there is…….is legal. Please consider carefully about submitting this proposal as many times as possible til they give up and legalize it. Alabama should lead this nation along with Colorado, etc.
I’m a disabled vet that suffers from a shoulder injury and PTSD. Weed helps out with the pain I constantly have in my shoulder and also with symptoms of the PTSD. My VA doctor wants me to stop smoking, for what, so I could keep taken their poison. Hell no! Nothing man made did it for me. I thank God for that herb. I agree, Alabama needs to legalize weed.
I hear you Bruce. I am also a vet with PTSD. My doc at the VA told me marijuana would help me more with PTSD than anything he could prescribe.of course he could not prescribe it to me. I started growing my own for personal use and was arrested because my exwife turned me in. Here in louisiana I would have been better off robbing a bank than growing marijuana. It is time for a reform of these antiquated laws and let people get the help from a safe medicine that has been used for centuries all over the world.
the drug dealers are the only people wanting it to stay the way it is…. go Alabama ! take out the drug dealers!
Thanks to Harry in 1932 marijuana became illegal but alabama need to get with the program and legalize marijuana
Overcrowded prisons, black market, loss of state revenue, ruined lives, inability to find jobs, safer than alcohol, closet smokers. Yeah, lets keep marijuana illegal. Alabama is such a wealthy state that it can afford the aforementioned results of prosecuting and imprisoning pot smokers.
Why would marijuana be any different than alchol in revenue why would Alabama not draw in the much needed revenue most of our president in the past and even present,smoked marijuana regularly ,I vote yes to legalize it totally
I can not figure out what has the government got to loose? I don’t smoke cigarettes or drink. Yet alcohol and cigarettes are KNOWN KILLERS. They kill families, careers, lives are taken by cancer, grey matter for brains and black lungs for smokers. When you hear of someone dying with marijuana related reasons it ALWAYS has other elements involved. Other drugs (prescription or street)or alcohol are contributors. Now if the powers that be rather government or drug “lords” would get it together and know just how much money they can save and use towards programs like feeding the military 3 meals a day and not the 2 they get now. They have cut all kinds of programs. Even our rescue teams such as the fire department, police would benefit. So what is it going to take to bring the light bulb on?
I think it is time to legalize marijuana and our economy needs the revenue& it is much safer than alchol
I think Alabama needs weed legalization and the majority is for it ,let’s get it done
The only reason more people haven’t voiced the same opinion is that ,they are afraid of the law harassing them,standup alabamians,this will help our economy
Legalize it please we are the United States we should do everything together not some state legal we should all be legal
I think they should legalize it . Alchol us legal and its killed ALOT of people.
Advantages are………
Opens my air way. Copd.
Calms my manic bi polar disorder.
Urges me to eat and helps my ulcerated stomach.
Helps the pain in my neck and back.
Stops intrusive thinking.
Allows me to be more social.
arrest for small amounts of marijuana can ruin lives. I would quit cig. if I could buy joints.
To all who want marijuana legal!
The fight is not with the state you live in our want to move to. The only way to get mary jane, herb etc. legal is for the Federal Goverment to change its federal law on marijuana once this happens other states will not be afraid and there by state laws will change
This is a plant that Jesus used to anoint folks , this is a cannabis oil from a plant that can kill Cancer & other medical conditions . This could be utilized medically.
we need weed to help the drug atics not get on higher drugs it will be like it is now with cigerettes some people smoake and ome don’t and by the way anyone could get it if the wont it the government is stupid bc all they are doing it loosing taxes that they arnt making
this is 9 major reasons we need weed.
2. For the effect of THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the main active chemical in marijuana.
3. To relieve the stress, anxiety, fear, pain or anger related to personal, psychological or family issues.
4. Popular culture endorses marijuana use.
5. Low perception of harm.
6. The opportunity to try marijuana presents itself.
7. Peer, family or role model influence.
8. People use marijuana because they were born with or develop certain personality dimensions, such as unconventionality, which make marijuana use non-taboo.
9. Curiosity.
10. To relax.
If it was legalized in all 50 states there would no longer be drug cartels from other countries smuggling into the US and in fact there would be less crime I had rather meet 20 people smoking and driving them one drinking and driving that’s my opinion
I believe we should try this again.
So many of us suffer buying it illegally risking much more than just jail time sometimes just to get a bag for a chronic pain or sickness or both I my case is ridiculous. I and my fionce refuse to take chemically altered substances and risk physical health issues from them while a puff of a plant solves major issues. Please legalize, don’t be selfish, alcohol and pills are useless. If you don’t over eat McDonalds then don’t push poisons on us that think the same things of chemically altered medical substances. Hear me now and understand me later, this would be a problem solver for both sides.
i would love to talk yto someone .i have proof that pot saved my life
i hope it happens in lifetime