HB386 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Patricia Todd

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Marijuana, use for medical purposes authorized, certified by physician, regulated as controlled substances, Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act

Summary

Alabama HB386 would legalize medical marijuana for patients with debilitating conditions, set up a registry system with cards, designate caregivers and nonprofit centers to assist, and enforce limits and protections for patients and providers.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes medical use of marijuana for qualifying patients diagnosed by a physician, and creates a registry card system to identify patients, caregivers, and compassion centers. It allows designated caregivers and registered nonprofit compassion centers to cultivate and dispense marijuana under strict limits and security rules, while prohibiting nonmedical use and imposing penalties for misuse. It provides legal protections from arrest or prosecution for cardholders and caregivers when operating within the act, and requires the Department of Public Health to issue rules, collect fees, and report on implementation and usage.

Who It Affects

• Qualifying patients with a medically debilitating condition who would use medical marijuana and obtain a registry identification card.
• Primary caregivers and nonprofit compassion centers that assist patients, may cultivate or dispense marijuana under the act, and must comply with registration, security, and reporting requirements.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act to authorize medical marijuana for qualifying patients and to distinguish medical from nonmedical use.
• Creates a registry identification card system through the Department of Public Health, with requirements for applications, renewals, fees, confidentiality, and card expiration (one year).
• Sets possession and cultivation limits: up to 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana per patient; up to six mature and six immature plants per patient, with facilities and caregiver designations limited to one designated grower per patient.
• Allows primary caregivers to assist patients; restricts cultivation to enclosed, locked facilities; permits compensation for caregiver costs but not sale of marijuana, and requires background checks for nonprofit center leadership.
• Creates registered nonprofit compassion centers (up to three) with rules on operation, security, record keeping, oversight, and public input; centers may not distribute to unauthorized individuals and must keep revenues in not-for-profit manner.
• Provides protections from arrest, prosecution, or penalties for cardholders and compliant caregivers; imposes penalties for fraud, false statements, and improper conduct; restricts use in certain places and during certain activities (e.g., driving, public spaces).
• Requires rules and timelines for adding medical conditions, issuing and renewing registry cards, and annual reporting to the Legislature on program metrics and operations.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Marijuana