SB115 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul Sanford

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Cannabidiol (CBD), affirmative defense for possession or use of further provided for, Carly's Law, Sec. 13A-12-214.2 am'd.

Summary

SB115 expands Carly's Law to broaden and permanently establish a CBD defense for certain medical conditions and relaxes who can prescribe CBD.

What This Bill Does

It creates a broader affirmative defense to unlawful possession of marijuana in the second degree for people using CBD to treat a debilitating medical condition, given a bona fide physician-patient relationship and potential therapeutic relief. It also allows parents or legal guardians to possess CBD for a minor who has a CBD prescription. The bill removes the requirement that CBD be prescribed only by health care practitioners employed by UAB and repeals the sunset that would have ended the defense in 2019, making the defense permanent. It also defines Carly's Law terms and outlines related protections and the prescription process.

Who It Affects

• Individuals diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition who use CBD with a bona fide physician-patient relationship and may seek the defense in second-degree marijuana possession prosecutions.
• Parents or legal guardians of minors who have a CBD prescription for a debilitating condition and may possess CBD on behalf of the minor.

Key Provisions

• Expands the affirmative defense to second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana for CBD used to treat a debilitating medical condition with a bona fide physician-patient relationship and where CBD provides therapeutic or pallative relief.
• Allows parents or guardians possessing CBD for a minor prescribed CBD to treat a debilitating condition to use the defense, removing the requirement that CBD be prescribed by UAB health care practitioners.
• Repeals the sunset that would have repealed the affirmative defense on July 1, 2019, making the defense continue beyond that date.
• Defines Carly's Law with terms such as Authorized by the UAB Department, Debilitating Medical Condition, Debilitating Epileptic Condition, and UAB Department; outlines prescription and use rules and protections for UAB-related entities.
• Provides that UAB Department and affiliated personnel are not to be prosecuted for CBD-related activities conducted in the treatment of individuals with debilitating epileptic conditions, and requires prescription detail to be produced in prosecutions.

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

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses