HB531 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rich Wingo

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Cannabis, women of childbearing age, certain requirements established for medical cannabis use, Sec. 20-2A-64 am'd.

Summary

HB531 would require pregnancy tests for women of childbearing age before medical cannabis purchases or physician recommendations, restrict breastfeeding purchases to registered caregivers, and impose stricter location and regulatory rules on dispensaries.

What This Bill Does

It mandates that women aged 25 to 50 obtain a negative pregnancy test within 48 hours before buying medical cannabis and that physicians must obtain a negative pregnancy test before recommending cannabis to women aged 13 to 50. It also bars breastfeeding women from purchasing cannabis unless they are registered caregivers and sets location, testing, labeling, and tracking requirements for dispensaries. Additionally, it strengthens licensing rules (up to three dispensing sites per licensee) and requires training for dispensers and verification of patient eligibility through the registry.

Who It Affects

• Women aged 25-50 must provide a negative pregnancy test within 48 hours before purchasing medical cannabis (and physicians must obtain a negative test before recommending cannabis to women aged 13-50).
• Breastfeeding women would be prohibited from purchasing medical cannabis unless they are acting as registered caregivers; physicians and dispensaries must follow stricter patient verification and testing procedures.

Key Provisions

• Dispensary licenses authorize purchase from processors, transfer within integrated facilities, and sale only to registered patients or registered caregivers.
• Dispensaries must be located at least 1,000 feet from any school, day care, or child-care facility and from 2-year or 4-year higher education institutions.
• Dispensaries must have surveillance cameras at all entry points with 60-day continuous recording retention; products must be tested and properly labeled before sale; all transactions and inventory must be entered into the statewide seed-to-sale system.
• Only certified dispensers may dispense medical cannabis; no on-premises use; only registered patients or caregivers may be on the premises.
• Each patient must be verified in the patient registry before dispensing and must not exceed the 60-day dosage limit; verification details must be logged.
• A certified dispenser training program will be established and maintained by the commission, including ongoing training requirements for certification renewal.
• A licensee may operate up to three dispensing sites in different counties; expansion possible if there is a sufficient patient pool, with restrictions on locations.
• A licensed physician may not recommend medical cannabis to a female patient aged 13-50 without obtaining a negative pregnancy test.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Cannabis