Do Alabama Rednecks Support “Compassionate Care”?

From the Drug Policy Alliance:

Support Compassionate Care in Alabama

Dear Supporter,

Last week, a medical marijuana access bill was introduced in the Alabama Legislature. Our bill, HB 679, has been assigned to the Judiciary Committee, and now needs to get called for a hearing. Can you take two minutes to ask the Judiciary Committee to bring this bill up for a vote?

HB 679, the Compassionate Care Act, was introduced by Representative Laura Hall. The bill would allow seriously ill patients to use marijuana as recommended by their physicians. You can read the legislation here.

Judiciary Committee members need to hear from you. They need to know that Alabamians support Compassionate Care.

Last year, our Compassionate Care bill made it to a Judiciary Committee hearing. Patients, family members and concerned citizens all testified in support of the bill, and the press coverage we got was extremely positive. But the committee tabled discussion of the bill, and it didn’t move any further.

Let’s get this bill all the way through the legislature this year. There are four things you can do right now to help make sure this bill is brought up in the Judiciary Committee for a hearing:

1. Send a message to your legislator now, urging them to support medical marijuana for the seriously ill.
2. Forward this action alert to five of your friends. Every time someone contacts his or her legislator about HB 679, it increases the likelihood that the bill will pass!
3. Help us get in contact with sympathetic doctors and patients. This is especially important. If you know of a doctor or patient who supports Compassionate Care, please contact me at gsayegh@drugpolicy.org  or call my direct line at 212.613.8048.

With your support, we will pass HB 679 and win compassionate medical marijuana legislation in Alabama!

If you have any questions about medical marijuana in Alabama, contact me at gsayegh@drugpolicy.org.

Thanks for all you do.

Gabriel Sayegh
Director, State Organizing and Policy Project
Drug Policy Alliance
More Information

Alabama’s Compassionate Care Act, HB 679, would provide much-needed protections for patients suffering from debilitating diseases and conditions. The legislation allows for patients to use medical marijuana under a physician’s care and direction. For individuals living with cancer, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS and other serious conditions, doctors and patients need to have every option available to alleviate severe pain and suffering.

Alabama residents strongly support the medical use of marijuana–a 2004 poll administered by the Mobile Register found that 75% of Alabamians support allowing access to medical marijuana as prescribed by a physician. This strong support for compassion is consistent with the levels found in other states and in national polls. A 2004 AARP national poll found that 72% of those surveyed support allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Numerous medical and scientific organizations, including the American College of Physicians, American Nurses Association, the American Public Health Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Lymphoma Foundation of America all support allowing access to marijuana for medicinal purposes when recommended by a physician.