SB155 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul Sanford

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Medical Marijuana, revise definition of cannabidiol, Leni's Law, Sec. 13A-12-214.3 am'd.

Summary

The bill revises Leni's Law to redefine cannabidiol and expands protections for CBD use by people with certain medical conditions.

What This Bill Does

It updates the CBD definition to a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid from Cannabis sativa L or preparations free of plant material, with THC no more than 3 percent relative to CBD, and tested by independent labs. It creates an affirmative and complete defense in a second-degree marijuana possession case for a person who used or possessed CBD if they have a debilitating medical condition or are a parent or guardian of a minor with such a condition. It also bars state agencies from removing a child from the home or pursuing child protection actions based solely on CBD possession under this section. It clarifies that the bill does not require insurance plans to cover CBD prescriptions and is intended only for limited nonpsychoactive CBD use, not a general medical marijuana program.

Who It Affects

• Patients with debilitating medical conditions (and parents or legal guardians of minors with these conditions) who use CBD can rely on an affirmative/complete defense in certain marijuana possession cases.
• Law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and families: must apply the CBD definitions and defenses; child welfare actions cannot be based solely on CBD possession; insurers are not required to reimburse CBD prescriptions.

Key Provisions

• Defines CBD as a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid from Cannabis sativa L or other preparations, free from plant material, with a THC level no more than 3% relative to CBD, and tested by an independent third-party lab.
• Defines a debilitating medical condition as a chronic or debilitating disease or condition, including conditions that produce seizures and for which treatment is being received.
• Adds an affirmative and complete defense in second-degree marijuana possession prosecutions for individuals who used or possessed CBD if they have a debilitating medical condition or are the parent/guardian of a minor with such a condition and the CBD is used by the minor.
• Protects against state or local agencies initiating child removal or child protection actions based solely on possession or use of CBD as allowed by this section.
• States that nothing in this section requires health insurance plans to cover CBD prescriptions.
• Clarifies that only the CBD form defined in this section is permitted; other forms of cannabis are not authorized by this section.
• Expresses the Legislature's intent to authorize only limited nonpsychoactive CBD use for specified conditions and not as a general medical marijuana program, while maintaining existing marijuana prohibitions not expressly modified by this section.
• Sets the act to take effect on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

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