Alabama lawmakers gave final passage to medical marijuana legislation on Thursday.
The House of Representatives voted 68-34 to pass the bill, which would allow people with a qualifying medical condition to purchase medical marijuana with the recommendation of a doctor.
Republican, and former State Trooper, Rep. Mike Ball, said “hearts and minds” were slowly changed on the issue.
Ball became emotional at times saying “Every year that we delay getting help to people who need it, there are more people and more people who are suffering because of it."
More than a dozen conditions, including cancer, a terminal illness, and chronic pain would allow a person to qualify.
The bill would allow the marijuana in forms such as pills, skin patches and creams but not in smoking or vaping products.
Representatives voted to name the bill after the son of a state Democratic representative, Laura Hall.
She had first introduced a medical marijuana bill over a decade ago after her son Wesley ‘Ato’ Hall had died of AIDS.
Ivey spokeswoman Gina Maiola said the governor’s office would review the bill.