In this episode, Trenton Garmon, ESQ., interviews with Marty Schleper about the SB-46 bill being passed in Alabama Senate and medical marijuana consideration in Alabama. Transcript - [Notice & Disclosure: TRANSCRIPT Not word-for-word AI Transcribed, but rather an unedited and unrevised Text version provided for key term searches and general outline, audio should be consulted for exact contexts.] Trenton Garmon 0:19 Welcome one Welcome all to I Heart Radio. This is Trenton Garmon live, bringing to you a two part show today we've got Marty Schelper from the Alabama republicans against medical marijuana prohibition or just marijuana prohibition, she's going to be discussing the recent change that we have seen in some of the lawmakers perspectives in regard to natural medicine and where that's going, Marty, thank you for being with us here on the show. Tell us congratulations on your big win. Tell us what's going on in the world of Alabama's consideration of medical marijuana. Marty Schelper 0:58 Well, thank you, Trenton. And it's a big win for the citizens of Alabama, I don't want to you know, overshadow that by any stretch of the imagination. And we are excited, you know, the SB-46, passed the Alabama Senate. It's moving on to the house HELP Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. And it'll pass those two committees and move on to a debate on the floor of the Alabama house. Trenton Garmon 1:25 That's great to hear. So as I understand it, which is just part of the process. And I always like to sort through some of the most difficult elements First, the power hurdles, but there's been an additional committee that's required of this bill, is that true and accurate? Marty Schelper 1:40 It is because of the legalization of cannabis for this Senate. And because it is considered a medical bill, it has to go through the Judiciary Committee and it has to go through the house Health Committee. That's why there's two committees that have been assigned to this. And we do not know at this time, which one it's going to go through first. Trenton Garmon 2:04 Okay. And back in December of 2019 believe there was a report of medical cannabis that was issued by study commission 18 total, members of the Commission looks like seven medical doctors, two PhDs, three lawyers, two pharmacists, two psychiatrists turn to neurologists and a radiology oncologist. So we're seeing I think, progresses to natural medicine for the state, which is only one of five in the entire United States that has total prohibition against medical marijuana. And so thank you for what you're doing for the people that do suffer from the conditions that are covered. What are some of the conditions that that you think this bill will help because obviously, their citizens out there and others opposition that is going to be, you know, something that's going to have to be overcome in the Senate, I believe, or the house, believe the speaker is saying that he's going to do everything he can to delay the passing of it, which is extremely discouraging when you consider there's probably some child at some point in time that's going to have epileptic seizure. And you know, this church of god man is rooted in his radical Protestantism. So it seems for the moment, but what are some of the conditions that the bill and the commission that was appointed to study it have a viable way to to be beneficial? And what are your thoughts as to that report? Marty Schelper 3:23 Okay, I do want to mention since you asked about the different conditions, there was one amendment from Senator Bobby Singleton that was added to the list, it was amended, and to include sickle cell anemia. So we were really happy about that. But you mentioned epileptic seizures, autism, cancer patients, people who have chronic pain. The list goes on and on. The legislation is out there. If people will go to our Facebook page, Alabama republicans against marijuana prohibition. We're posting tons of information out there with links so that people can read the legislation. We're posting information so people can contact their legislators, because we're at a very, very critical time right now with this House Judiciary Committee, and the house Health Committee. We need citizens of the state of Alabama to call and email the members of those two House committees and let them know personally how important that this cannabis legislation is to them. And I want to remind people, cannabis has an ancient history. This is not something that we just discovered, you know, miraculously discovered that cannabis is beneficial to the endocannabinoid system that every human being has to keep their bodies in a state of homeostasis. This plant is put here by God, to heal the nation's and for us to be able to heal our bodies. And I want people to know, these legislators either need to be educated, or you just need to let them know that this is important. To you, and if it's not important to them, you should have the right to choose. Trenton Garmon 5:04 Well, it goes back to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness against these four these rights was the reason that government is there that they exist to secure the citizens rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness endowed by our Creator. So I think you're spot on Marty, and we look and see science is confirming it. There's obviously always changes in perspective, you know, with culture, but yeah, no, no, would you say the list goes on. I mean, there's right now very clear itemized list of what conditions it would be designed to treat, of course, the method and manner in which it would be distributed and believe the seed to sale part of the bill is very beneficial for even local farmers and business people because it's gonna require there be a stringent process and all of the cannabis that is eventually becomes medicine and process would have been grown in the state of Alabama. And of course, would be employing by way of being, you know, prove people to work for those farmers and people to work for them, the dispensers themselves. So with regard to the opposition, go ahead. Marty Schelper 6:10 I just wanted to say and and that was something that was very important to Senator Tim Melton, from Florence that sponsored sb 46. That could go to Nelson. Trenton Garmon 6:19 Yeah, he's been there need to really cheer him on, because he stood in the gap and just continued to speak. He's a medical doctor, of course. But speaking half of those that understand the medical benefits and what 45 out of 50 other states understand, it's odd that we have the House Speaker saying that they're going to take their time, which to me, that is really a sandbagging approach to medicine. That's very unfortunate. But go ahead. You were saying? Marty Schelper 6:48 Yeah, the reason I wanted to mention him is because he did stand up for the citizens of Bama, not just the sick, suffering and dying who need access to this. But he stood up for the farmers in the state of Alabama, and people forget how many jobs are going to be brought on online. When this program is implemented? It's not just going to be the farmers. I mean, there's going to be this is going to be like a cottage industry that's created. And it's going to provide funding into the state of Alabama, just for the lot, they do not know. I mean, I really do think that I know what the blowback is, but I mean, you know, 3637 other sites in the nation have access to medicinal therapeutic cannabis. It's time for Alabama to lead. The state of Oklahoma is working on legislation right now that anyone from any other site can come to Oklahoma, go to a doctor, get a medical card, and have access to their medicinal cannabis program and the shadow Oklahoma. Sure, Oklahoma is leading. Now those people can't transport that product legally back to the states where they actually live. Well, Trenton Garmon 8:04 that's probably not deeply rooted, no constitutional truth. But there were three public hearings held on the cannabis proposal as part of the study. And of course, it examined federal laws, regulations of other states made a recommendation to the legislature and as you brought up earlier, there was an overwhelming approval, we had 12 out of the 18. On the panel, three abstained to give a recommendation or vote in favor, but of that group that we discussed there just briefly earlier, there's overwhelming support. So I do hope that the house, pushes the ball in the endzone and allows for those Alabamians who are going to go to their doctor and follow their doctor's advice, to not have a bureaucratic sandbag and barrier to that very basic human right. And I believe if my child's laying on the floor having an epileptic seizure, and I knew that one droplet of hemp or cannabis or some type of medicine The doctor has approved would alleviate that. God forbid some bureaucratic lawmakers stand in the middle and in the way of that so Marty, you're are in my prayers. You are one of my heroes out on the forefront doing the work because I know it's not easy. herding cats is that kind of what it seems like when you're trying to get this bill back through and well for approval and considered. Marty Schelper 9:28 I do own a business which affords me time and I spend 12 to 14 hours a day on average on cannabis advocacy. And I feel like that I'm juggling bottles and herding cats. The most important thing that I can cite today, if you are within the sound of my voice, and you are on social media, con Conde tak the house, this the Alabama House members and let them know that this is important to you. Even if it's not Something that you think that you would use, but you think that it's someone in your family may need or a friend, someone at your church, please contact the members of the Alabama house and let them know that you're in support of this because if you're talking about it on social media, they're not seeing i