The State of Alabama has some of the harshest cannabis laws in the United States. Getting caught with any amount of cannabis can land you in jail for up to 20 years. Efforts thus far to legalize cannabis in any form have received little support from the Alabama State Government.
CBD from Hemp Oil in Alabama
Hemp CBD oil is federally legal in the U.S. Individual state laws, however, are dynamic and some states have and will enact their own laws regulating hemp-derived CBD.
Medical Cannabis in Alabama
Full strength medical cannabis is still illegal in Alabama. However, in 2014, Governor Robert Bentley signed Senate Bill 174, also known as Carly’s Law, which made it legal for seizure patients with a prescription from a licensed physician to possess and use high-CBD, low-THC cannabis extracts.
In 2016, the Medical Marijuana Patient Safe Access Act, which would legalize low-THC cannabis for a wider range of ailments, was presented to Alabama lawmakers. As of now, the bill remains in the Senate County and Municipal Government Committee. If it progresses through the state’s legislature and ends up being passed, it would legalize cannabidiol from marijuana. Medical cannabis, in the strict sense of the term, would still remain outlawed in Alabama.
Recreational Cannabis in Alabama
Alabama is considered one of the most conservative states in the US in regards to marijuana. Smoking or possessing any amount of recreational marijuana can land individuals in jail. First time offenders are susceptible to a misdemeanor charge punishable to a 1-year jail term and a fine of $6,000. In some cases, the jail term can be suspended with probation. Repeated offenders are charged with a Class C felony that is punishable to up to 1 to 10 years of jail time and a $15,000 fine. The sale of recreational marijuana, even in trace amounts, is a Class B felony and punishable to a 2 to 20 years prison sentence with a $30,000 fine. Selling marijuana to minors can lead to life imprisonment.
Cultivation of Cannabis in Alabama
The cultivation of cannabis for any purpose, including personal, commercial, medical, and research purposes, is illegal in Alabama. Growing cannabis or any of its derivatives on your personal property can result in a trafficking felony punishable by a minimum 3 years imprisonment and a $25,000 fine.
Resources:
- http://www.ibtimes.com/marijuana-legalization-alabama-2015-senate-consider-first-medical-marijuana-bill-1893870
- https://www.uab.edu/news/innovation/item/7060-uab-presents-first-results-of-cbd-oil-studies-at-neurology-meeting
