Alabama House Passes Bill Requiring Parents to Report Children Smelling of Marijuana
In a rare display of internal party debate, Alabama House Democrats clashed on a bill that would ban smoking or vaping marijuana in vehicles with children present and require parents to report their children if they smell of marijuana. The bill, sponsored by Representative Patrick Sellers (D-Pleasant Grove), aims to protect children from the harmful effects of second-hand marijuana smoke.
The bill would make it a Class A misdemeanor to smoke or vape marijuana in a vehicle with a child under the age of 19 present, punishable by up to one year in jail and mandatory attendance at an education course on the negative impacts of marijuana use around children.
Representative Sellers emphasized the importance of keeping marijuana use away from children, citing the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. However, Representative Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham) expressed concerns about the bill’s unintended consequences, including racial profiling and the potential for overreporting.
Despite the internal debate, the bill passed the House with the support of all Republicans and most Democrats. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration, where it will need to pass and be signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey to take effect on October 1.
