HB642 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Patricia Todd

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Marijuana, medical use for certain qualifying patients, authorized, Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act

Summary

The bill would legalize medical marijuana for Alabama patients with debilitating conditions, create a regulated system of registry cards, designated caregivers, and nonprofit centers to grow and dispense it, and provide protections for patients and caregivers who follow the rules.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes medical use of marijuana for qualifying patients diagnosed by a physician as having a debilitating condition. It creates a registry card system (for patients, caregivers, and center staff) and defines roles such as physicians, primary caregivers, and registered nonprofit compassion centers. It sets possession and cultivation limits, provides legal protections and a defense for compliant patients and caregivers, and requires the Department to issue rules, register centers, and publish an annual non-identifying report on activity and compliance.

Who It Affects

• Qualifying patients with debilitating medical conditions who may obtain registry identification cards and use marijuana for treatment under specified limits and protections.
• Designated or primary caregivers and nonprofit compassion centers that assist patients, including cultivation and dispensing of marijuana under strict eligibility, registration, and oversight requirements (and physicians who provide written certifications).

Key Provisions

• Creates the Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act and authorizes medical marijuana for qualifying patients with debilitating medical conditions.
• Establishes a registry identification card system for qualifying patients, designated caregivers, and personnel of registered nonprofit centers; requires physician-written certifications and department rules to implement.
• Imposes possession and cultivation limits: a patient may possess up to 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana; a designated caregiver may possess 2.5 ounces per patient and, if allowed to cultivate, up to six marijuana plants per patient.
• Allows non-profit compassion centers to cultivate and dispense marijuana to registered patients and caregivers under strict controls, with security, inspections, and prohibitions on profit-disguised activities; centers must be Alabama residents and operate on a not-for-profit basis.
• Provides legal protections and defenses for cardholders and patients, and outlines penalties for fraud, improper conduct, or violations of the act; prohibits certain actions by schools, employers, and landlords unless federal law is violated or federal funding is at risk.
• Requires the Department to adopt rules, regulate renewals, set fees, and publish an annual report (with non-identifying data) on program activity; directs the Department to act within specified timeframes for applications and card issuance.
• Includes safeguards related to minors (with parental consent), confidentiality of patient information, and the prohibition of selling marijuana by cardholders to non-patients.
• Effective date is the first day of the third month after passage and gubernatorial approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Marijuana