HB25 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Patricia Todd

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

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

Summary

The Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act would legalize medical marijuana for certain Alabama patients and create a regulated system with physicians, patients, caregivers, and nonprofit centers to oversee its use.

What This Bill Does

It allows medical use of marijuana for patients diagnosed with debilitating medical conditions by a physician. It creates a Department of Public Health registry system with registry identification cards for patients, caregivers, and nonprofit centers, and grants legal protections to cardholders and caregivers when used as prescribed. It allows designated primary caregivers to assist with a patient’s medical use and to cultivate marijuana within strict limits, and it authorizes up to three nonprofit compassion centers to grow, manufacture, and dispense marijuana to registered patients under regulatory oversight.

Who It Affects

• Qualifying patients with debilitating medical conditions who would receive registry cards, legal protections, and a defense to prosecution when using marijuana for medical purposes.
• Primary caregivers and nonprofit compassion centers who support patients, may cultivate or dispense marijuana under registration, face limits on amounts and plants, and must follow regulatory and security requirements.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes medical use of marijuana for qualifying patients diagnosed by a physician with a debilitating medical condition.
• Creates a Department of Public Health registry system and registry identification cards for qualifying patients, designated caregivers, and nonprofit compassion centers; establishes confidentiality protections.
• Sets possession and cultivation limits: up to 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana per patient and up to six mature and six immature plants per patient; caregivers' allowances are tied to the patients they serve and must be in enclosed, locked facilities.
• Authorizes up to three nonprofit compassion centers to cultivate, manufacture, and dispense marijuana, with registration, oversight, background checks, security requirements, and not-for-profit status.
• Provides legal protections for cardholders and caregivers from arrest or penalties when acting within the act; physicians are protected for issuing certifications, with possible sanctions for improper practice.
• Requires the Department to adopt rules, establish fee structures, consider new medical conditions via petitions, and produce annual reports; outlines enforcement and penalties for fraudulent representations, while restricting use in public places and driving under the influence.

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