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Ala. (WSFA) – The Alabama State Committee of Public health is considering whether to allow the rescheduling of marijuana and held a public hearing Wednesday morning to hear from the public on the possible change
In April, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration changed the classification of marijuana products approved by the Food and Drug Administration from Schedule I to Schedule III drugs
Schedule I drugs have no accepted medical use and are listed as having a high potential for abuse. Schedule III drugs are labeled as having less abuse potential with a moderate to low risk of psychological and physical dependence
“I ask that the objection remain and that Alabama continues to set higher standards for medicine than what D.C. is currently doing,” said Lori Herring, director of special projects for Eagle Forum of Alabama
A handful of people spoke in opposition to the rescheduling. One person spoke out in favor of rescheduling
“While this isn’t the best medicine for everyone, it is the medicine per law that everyone has been administered after most every other medication has failed or not been enough to give them what they needed in their treatment,” said Joey Robertson, CEO and president of Wagon Trail Med-Serv
In May, the committee objected to the rescheduling to allow for the public and stakeholders to give their input ion the decision
They also providedthe following reasons:
- “Separate from the federal system, Alabama has recently put into place a robust framework to deal with medical marijuana that is outside the jurisdiction of the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and Alabama’s Controlled Substances Act.
- In light of Alabama’s substantial work to establish its own framework for the dispensing of medical marijuana, additional time is needed to evaluate whether the federal rescheduling will alter that framework as outlined by the Legislature.”
General counsel for the Alabama Department of Public Health said a decision would be made after Aug. 5, which is the deadline for written comments from the public
Medical marijuana became legal in Alabama in 2021. Recently, patients were able to purchase legal medical cannabis. The first sale was on June 3rd at Callie’s Apothecary in Montgomery
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