Last week Senator Tim Melson (R – Florence) introduced Senate Bill 165, known as The Compassion Act, dealing with legalizing Cannabis for Medical Purposes. The bill was assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Senator Cam Ward (R—Alabaster). After a public hearing, in which a number of amendments were adopted it received a favorable report and will move to the Senate for debate next week. 

We would like to commend Senator Melson for his reasonable stance when it comes to working with Manufacture Alabama to ensure that our members and partners are protected. Melson’s passion for passing Medical Cannabis legislation is surpassed only by willingness to work with associations such as ours to mitigate the negative effects. 

Both the House version of this legislation, HB36 sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown (R—Mobile) and the Senate version, SB 45, sponsored by Sen. Cam Ward (R-Alabaster) received a favorable report in committee and are expected to be on the floor for passage next week in their respective chambers. 

HB 140, sponsored by Rep. Allen Baker (R – Brewton) was debated on the floor on Tuesday and moved for final passage on Thursday. This legislation passed the House unanimously 102-0. 

Governor Ivey appointed a Blue Ribbon Panel/Study Group to come up with recommendations for the way forward when it comes to gaming and the myriad issues surrounding any possible legislation to handle the gaming and education lottery questions once and for all. 

Members of The Panel are:

Former Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange

CEO of INTUITIVE AR “Rey” Almodovar

CEO Emirita of The Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville Dr. Deborah Banhart

Former Alabama Insurance Commissioner Walter Bell

Former United States Attorney General Dr. Regina Benjamin

Former Alabama State Treasurer Young Boozer

Mobile County Sheriff Sam Cochran

Attorney and Auburn Trustee Elizabeth “Liz” Huntley 

Tuscaloosa CPA Carl Jamison

Former Supreme Court Justice James M. “Jim” Main

Former AP Capital Reporter Philip M. “Phil” Rawls

Canterbury United Methodist (Birmingham) Bishop B. Mike Watson

Last Week, Representative Chris Sells (R—Greenville) sponsored HB 147, which will outlaw municipalities from enacting an occupational, should they not already have one, passed the House of Representatives and received a first reading in the senate. 

At the same time, Alabama State Employees Association Mac McArthur and State Personnel Director Jackie Graham sent a letter to Mayor Steven Reed in opposition to the tax measure, and a group of mayors from around the state headlined by Reed, Sandy Stimpson (Mobile), Randall Woodfin (Birmingham), Tommy Battle (Huntsville) Walt Maddox (Tuscaloosa) and Reed himself sent an open letter to Alabama Legislators in opposition to this legislation. 

This bill sailed to passage in the Senate committee 8-2, almost concurrently with the City of Montgomery passing a 1% occupational tax. The bill will not repeal or disallow any tax levied by February 1, 2020, so it appears that everyone will get to have their cake and eat it to when it comes to this issue.