The Alabama Cannabis Coalition is urging lawmakers to reject House Bill 72, warning that the legislation would further expand criminal penalties tied to marijuana use and deepen Alabama’s reliance on punitive drug policy.
HB72, which overwhelmingly passed the Alabama House and now heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee, has drawn criticism from advocates who argue it reflects a familiar legislative pattern—one that prioritizes enforcement and punishment over evidence-based reform, public health, and civil liberties.
“The Alabama Cannabis Coalition strongly opposes HB72,” said H. Marty Schelper, founder and president of the coalition. “This legislation continues a pattern of criminalizing citizens instead of addressing real policy failures with transparency, data, and compassion. Alabama deserves better than recycled enforcement-first solutions.”
Under HB72, marijuana use in certain circumstances involving vehicles and minors would be elevated to criminal offenses, with additional reporting requirements tied to child welfare agencies. Critics say those provisions risk broadening criminal exposure without improving safety outcomes, while further entangling families in the state’s criminal justice and child welfare systems.
The coalition says the bill runs counter to core principles it believes should guide public policy, including constitutional protections, proportional enforcement, evidence-based public safety measures, and respect for patients and citizens impacted by decades of outdated cannabis laws.
The opposition comes as Alabama finds itself increasingly isolated on marijuana policy. Medical marijuana is legal in roughly 40 states, and recreational use is permitted in nearly half the country. Public opinion polling has consistently shown majority support for legalization or decriminalization nationwide, including among conservative voters.
At the federal level, momentum has also shifted. In late 2025, the administration of Donald Trump directed federal agencies to accelerate the process of reclassifying marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act, acknowledging its accepted medical use and lowering regulatory barriers for research.
Against that backdrop, the coalition argues, Alabama lawmakers are moving in the opposite direction.
“HB72 moves Alabama further away from sensible reform and further out of alignment with both the facts and the will of the people,” the coalition said in its statement.
As the bill advances, the Alabama Cannabis Coalition is encouraging lawmakers to reconsider the long-term consequences of expanding criminal penalties and urging citizens to engage constructively with their elected officials. The group says it will continue advocating for cannabis policy rooted in fairness, data, and public interest—not fear-driven legislation.
