(a)(1) This section shall be known and may be cited as Leni's Law.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
a. CANNABIDIOL (CBD). [13956-29-1]. A (nonpsychoactive) cannabinoid found in the plant Cannabis sativa L. or any other preparation thereof that is free from plant material, and has a THC level (delta-9-tetrahydrocannibinol) of no more than three percent relative to CBD according to the rules adopted by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Also known as (synonyms): 2-[(1R,6R)-3-Methyl-6-(1-methylethenyl)-2-cyclohexen-1-yl]-5-pentyl-1,3-benzenediol; trans-(-)-2-p-mentha-1,8-dien-3-yl-5-pentylresorcinol; (-)-Cannabidiol; (-)-trans-Cannabidiol; Cannabidiol (7CI); D1(2)-tran-Cannabidiol and that is tested by a independent third-party laboratory.
b. DEBILITATING MEDICAL CONDITION. A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition including one that produces seizures for which a person is under treatment.
(3) In addition to the affirmative defense provided in Section 13A-12-214.2, in a prosecution for the unlawful possession of marijuana in the second degree under Section 13A-12-214, it is an affirmative and complete defense that the defendant used or possessed CBD if the defendant satisfies either of the following:
a. He or she has a debilitating medical condition.
b. He or she is the parent or legal guardian of a minor who has a debilitating medical condition, and the CBD is being used by the minor.
(4) An agency of this state or a political subdivision thereof, including any law enforcement agency, may not initiate proceedings to remove a child from the home of a parent or guardian, nor initiate any child protection action or proceedings, based solely upon the parent's or child's possession or use of CBD as allowed by this section.
(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the various individual or group insurance organizations providing protection, indemnity, or insurance against hospital, medical, or surgical expenses, or health maintenance organizations to provide payment or reimbursement for prescriptions of CBD.
(6) Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow or accommodate the prescription, testing, medical use, or possession of any other form of Cannabis other than that defined in this section.
(b) The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(1) This section is intended to authorize only the limited use of nonpsychoactive CBD as defined in this section only for specified debilitating conditions that produce seizures, and is not intended as a generalized authorization of medical marijuana.
(2) It is the intent of the Legislature to maintain existing criminal prohibitions of marijuana, except as expressly provided in existing law or as expressly provided in this section.
Last modified: May 3, 2021