HB2 Summary: Alabama Medical Marijuana Patients Rights Act

• Authorizes medical use of cannabis for patients diagnosed with serious medical conditions (including AIDS, cancer, chronic pain, seizures, PTSD, and 25+ other conditions) upon physician recommendation and receipt of a state identification card.

• Establishes a registration program through county health departments where qualified patients can obtain identification cards valid for 2 years; designated caregivers over 18 can also be authorized to assist patients.

• Creates three classes of physician recommendations with different possession and cultivation limits: Class 1 allows 2.5 oz purchase/month or 8 oz possession with 8 plants; Class 2 allows 5 oz/month or 12 oz with 12 plants; Class 3 allows 10 oz/month or 16 oz with 16 plants.

• Protects qualified patients and caregivers from criminal prosecution, employment discrimination, property forfeiture, and civil penalties for medical cannabis use, while exempting employers in safety-sensitive positions.

• Establishes licensing and regulatory framework for medical cannabis dispensing centers, delivery services, cultivators, and product manufacturers as nonprofit entities; imposes 2.5% sales taxes on all medical marijuana sales to fund law enforcement drug trafficking efforts.