As stated in my earlier “ALCAP Alert!” we had asked for a public hearing on SB46 (“medical” marijuana). After talking with the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee that was going to decide whether or not to send the bill to the full Alabama Senate for a vote and learning that each speaker would only have one and a half minutes to speak, we decided the risk related to COVID-19 was not worth it and we withdrew our request for a public hearing. The chairman invited me to send him any paper(s) that I wanted to share with the committee. Below is a copy of my email and attached are the two documents I sent him.
The Senate Judiciary Committee passed the bill out of committee this morning. I would encourage everyone to contact your State Senator and ask him/her to vote NO on SB46. We were told that the Legislature would only deal with “urgent” legislation the first couple of weeks until they could assess the risks for spreading the virus, so apparently they think exposing the citizens of Alabama to a mind-altering and addictive drug (marijuana) without honest and legitimate debate and input from the citizens of Alabama is somehow “urgent.”
Here is the email and attachments we sent to the chairman yesterday…
Dear Senate Judiciary Committee Members:
Sen. Whatley offered me the opportunity to send something for you to read since I withdrew my request for a public hearing on SB46 due to COVID-19 concerns. Because my wife is considered high risk due to heart bypass surgery a couple of years ago and because she is a Type 1 diabetic (for the last 57 years), I did not want to risk exposing myself, or possibly, those of you who must be at the State House.
I realize how limited your time is and most of you heard all the “talking points” last year when a similar bill was introduced, so what I am sending you today, as a reminder, is a 2019 letter from the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics that many of you saw last year. I am adding to the letter something you may not have seen. It is an article that was published on the “Parents Opposed to Pot” website (www.poppot.org).
The story is short and I would respectfully ask that you take the time to read it. Often, those who support the legalization of marijuana in the name of “medicine,” appeal to you on the basis of emotion, so I am taking the “emotional approach” this time by including this article.
Thank you for all you are doing for our state and I assure you of my continued prayers for you during these challenging days. I look forward to being able to see you in person soon.
Sincerely,
Joe Godfrey
ALCAP
Attachments:
“Parents Opposed to Pot” Article – Remember Andy Zorn
2019 Letter from the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics