>> DON: GOOD EVENING.

FROM OUR STATEHOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M DON DAILEY.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, THE EDUCATION AND GENERAL FUND BUDGETS COULD BE BOTH IN LINE FOR FINAL LEGISLATIVE PASSAGE THIS WEEK.

A BILL TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS EXPECTED TO BE UP IN THE HOUSE, AND GAMBLING LEGISLATION WILL BE CONSIDERED IN A HOUSE COMMITTEE.

BUT WE WILL BEGIN TONIGHT WITH GOOD REAPPORTIONMENT NEWS.

THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT ALABAMA WILL NOT LOSE A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT FOR ANOTHER TEN YEARS, THAT THE STATE'S POPULATION CAME IN AT SOME 5,000,030,000 SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN ESTIMATES EARLIER IN THE YEAR.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY REACTED TODAY, SAYING IN A STATEMENT THAT THE DATA REVEALS WHAT ALABAMA HAS KNOWN ALL ALONG.

SHE WENT ON TO SAY.

“I AM EXTREMELY PLEASED THAT WE WILL KEEP ALL SEVEN OF OUR CURRENT SEATS IN THE U.S. HOUSE TO PROVIDE VALUED AND NEEDED VOICES TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR STATE AND OUR PEOPLE FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

OUR SUCCESS IN THE CENSUS WAS CERTAINLY A GROUP EFFORT ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE, AND I OFFER MY HEARTFELT THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO PLAYED A PART.” ALABAMA'S OFFICIAL POPULATION THAT WAS REPORTED TODAY WAS NEARLY 109,000 PEOPLE HIGHER THAN THE LAST STATE ESTIMATE RELEASED EARLIER THIS YEAR.

LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK WILL TAKE UP SOME HEAVYWEIGHT ISSUES.

BOTH STATE BUDGETS WILL BE IN POSITION FOR POSSIBLE FINAL LEGISLATIVE PASSAGE.

THE HOUSE TOMORROW WILL CONSIDER THE RECORD $7.6 BILLION EDUCATION BUDGET.

IT CONTAINS MONEY FOR PAY RAISES FOR ALL EDUCATION EMPLOYEES AND FOR A NEW STEP-RAISE STRUCTURE FOR TEACHERS.

HOUSE BUDGET CHAIR, BILL POOLE OF TUSCALOOSA, SAID LAST WEEK THAT BUDGET ALSO CONTAINS MORE FUNDING FOR MORE TARGETED HIRING OF SOME TEACHERS.

>> THIS BUDGET MAKES VERY AGGRESSIVE INVESTMENTS IN STEM TEACHERS IN THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS.

AND WE HAVE AN ACUTE SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS IN THOSE FIELDS.

WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT.

AND THIS IS A VERY AGGRESSIVE EFFORT TO BE SURE WE CAN RECRUIT AND GET THE NUMBER OF STEM TEACHERS IN OUR STATE.

AND NOT ONLY TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE OUTCOMES BUT IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES IN THE STATE NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.

>> DON: THE SENATE HAS ALREADY APPROVED THE EDUCATION BUDGET, AND HOUSE PASSAGE TOMORROW, EVEN WITH AMENDMENTS, COULD SET IT UP FOR FINAL APPROVAL BEFORE WEEK'S END.

MEANWHILE, A SENATE COMMITTEE TOMORROW WILL TAKE UP THE RECORD $2.4 BILLION GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

AMONG OTHER THINGS, IT INCLUDES A 2% PAY RAISE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES.

COMMITTEE PASSAGE TOMORROW WOULD SEND THE GENERAL FUND TO THE SENATE FLOOR AS EARLY AS THURSDAY.

THE SENATE TOMORROW COULD AGAIN TAKE UP A CLOSELY-WATCHED BILL THAT WOULD BAN CURBSIDE VOTING IN THE STATE, AFTER IT WAS CARRIED OVER LAST WEEK.

THE LEGISLATION IS BEING HANDLED IN THE UPPER CHAMBER BY SENATOR DAN ROBERTS OF MOUNTAIN BROOK.

>> BY KEEPING A BALLOT IN THE HANDS OF THE VOTER WHO THEN INSERTS IT IN THE MACHINE, WE'RE INSURING THAT EACH VOTE IS COUNTED ACCURATELY, HONESTLY AND INDEPENDENTLY FOR MANY POLL WORKER OR THIRD PARTY.

AS YOU KNOW, IN SEPTEMBER 2020, A U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE ISSUED A RULING TO ALLOW COUNTIES TO OFFER CURBSIDE VOTING AND WHILE THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAID THAT CURBSIDE VOTING IS NOT A SAFE WAY TO VOTE.

AND THE RULING STILL ALLOWED COUNTIES TO DO THAT.

AND THIS BILL JUST DEALS WITH THAT.

>> DON: THE HOUSE HAS ALREADY APPROVED THE CURBSIDE VOTING BAN, SOMETHING DEMOCRATS HAVE PUSHED BACK ON.

SENATE PASSAGE THIS WEEK COULD PUT IT IN POSITION FOR POSSIBLE FINAL LEGISLATIVE PASSAGE.

ONE OF THE BILLS IN THE SENATE-PASSED COMPREHENSIVE GAMBLING PLAN IS SET FOR HOUSE COMMITTEE ACTION THIS WEEK.

IT WOULD ALLOW FOR A STATE LOTTERY, CASINOS AND SPORTS BETTING AND GOVERNOR KAY IVEY SAID LATE LAST WEEK THAT SHE WAS WATCHING THE PROCESS CLOSELY.

>> Governor: I'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE HOUSE MEMBERS AND THE LEADERSHIP AND I AM STAYING FULLY ENGAGED.

I TRULY HOPE WE CAN GET THIS BILL DONE, AND DONE RIGHT.

BECAUSE IT WOULD BE TRANSFORMATIONAL TO THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, THEY WILL BE THE BENEFICIARIES OF GAMING IN THIS STATE.

>> DON: THE GAMBLING-ENABLING LEGISLATION IS SET FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE HOUSE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

THE HOUSE LATER THIS WEEK IS WIDELY EXPECTED TO TAKE UP THE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD LEGALIZE THE USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THE STATE.

IT'S SPONSORED BY SENATOR TIM MELSON OF FLORENCE, WHO TELLS CAPITOL JOURNAL THAT HE BELIEVES THAT HE'S SLOWLY BEEN WINNING ENOUGH VOTES IN THE LOWER CHAMBER TO GET HIS BILL PASSED.

>> I THINK IT'S EDUCATING INDIVIDUALS AND TALKING TO THEM, HEARING STORIES, AND FINDING OUT THAT JUST BECAUSE THERE'S AN EVIL ASSOCIATION OR NEGATIVE ASSOCIATION WITH SOMETHING, DOESN'T MEAN THERE'S NOT BENEFITS.

I THINK FINALLY A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE REALIZING THAT.

>> DON: MELSON WILL JOIN US ON THE BROADCAST SHORTLY TO TALK MORE ABOUT HIS BILL.

STILL, A HOUSE VOTE ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA WILL BE CLOSE, WITH OPPONENTS RAISING A NUMBER OF CONCERNS.

DR. KEN FINN IS A COLORADO PAIN MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST WHO HAS EXTENSIVELY WRITTEN AND CONSULTED ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

HE SPOKE WITH CAPITOL JOURNAL ABOUT HIS CONCERNS.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION REGARDING THE SCIENCE.

I CONSIDER MYSELF SCIENCE-BASED AND EVIDENCE-BASED PROVIDER.

THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A MOUNTAIN OF PEER-REVIEWED SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE OUTLINING POTENTIAL HARMS WITH A PRODUCT THAT IS NOT BEEN WELL STUDIED OR TESTED FOR SAFETY MEASURES.

>> DON: DR. FINN WILL JOIN US LATER IN THE BROADCAST TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT.

ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL BILL THAT'S EXPECTED TO GET A HOUSE VOTE SOON IS ONE THAT WOULD BAN CERTAIN TRANSGENDER MEDICAL TREATMENTS FOR MINORS.

IT'S CONTROVERSIAL LEGISLATION THAT SPEAKER MAC MCCUTCHEON SAID LATE LAST WEEK HE EXPECTS TO ULTIMATELY COME TO THE FLOOR.

>> THAT WHICH WILL IS BEING WORKED ON AS WELL.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THERE'S AMENDMENTS BEING LOOKED AT BY THE HOUSE SPONSOR OF THE BILL, REPRESENTATIVE ALAN.

AND I THINK THAT YOU WILL PROBABLY SEE A VOTE ON THAT BILL BEFORE WE FINISH THE SESSION AS WELL.

IT'S READY.

IT WOULD BE ACTUALLY, THE SENATE VERSION OF THAT SENATE BILL 10 IS THE BILL THAT WOULD BE PUT ON THE FLOOR.

>> DON: THE SENATE HAS ALREADY APPROVED THE TRANSGENDER YOUTH BILL.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Don: NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, SENATOR TIM MELSON IS BACK IN THE STUDIO.

>> YOU BET.

>> AND MEDICAL MARIJUANA COULD BE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR THIS WEEK AND GET FINAL PASSAGE.

ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC?

>> YEAH, I'M OPTIMISTIC.

IT'S BEEN A THREE-YEAR PROCESS, A LOT OF STEPS, ORGANIZATION, AND NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS AND STORIES TOLD.

WE'VE WORKED THE BILL.

THINK WE HAVE A GOOD CHANCE.

>> Don: THIS IS SEVERAL YEARS COMING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS DIFFERENT THIS GO-ROUND?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S EDUCATING INDIVIDUALS AND TALKING TO THEM, HEARING STORIES, AND FINDING OUT JUST BECAUSE THERE'S AN EVIL ASSOCIATION OR NEGATIVE ASSOCIATION WITH SOMETHING, DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE'S NOT BENEFITS.

AND THINK, FINALLY A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE REALIZING THAT.

I THINK SOME NEVER WILL, THAT'S OKAY TOO.

BUT THINK WE'RE GETTING THERE.

>> Don: WITH THE VOTE IN THE HOUSE BEING UPON US AT ANY TIME NOW, I KNOW YOU ARE COUNTING VOTES VERY CLOSELY.

DO YOU I THINK YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT TO GET IT OUT.

>> YEAH, I DO HAVE THE SUPPORT TO GET IT OUT.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT A FILIBUSTER MAY DO OR SOME TECHNICAL THING.

THE FURTHER YOU GET INTO THE SESSION, THERE'S WAYS TO SABOTAGE A BILL.

HOPEFULLY THEY ARE GOING TO LET THE VOTE GO TO THE FLOOR AND THINK WE'RE OKAY.

>> LET'S TALK SPECIFICS.

YOUR BILL TIGHTLY REGULATES FROM THE GROWING OF THE CANNABIS, TO THE PRESCRIBING OF IT AND THE DISPENSARIES.

>> AND THE PROCESSING TOO.

YOU LEFT THAT STEP OUT.

GROW IT, PROCESS IT, DISTRIBUTE IT AND GET IT OUT TO THE PATIENTS.

IT'S A SEED TO SALES TERM THAT MEANS, THEY KNOW WHAT IS PLANTED, GROWING, KNOWING THE QUALITY AND THE COMPONENTS OF IT, AS FAR AS THE PERCENTAGES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IF YOU LOOK AT MAYO CLINIC AND OTHER PLACES LIKE THAT, THERE'S A PRESCRIBING -- I GUESS I SHOULD SAY, RECOMMENDATION GUIDELINE FOR DIFFERENT DISEASES.

THERE'S A LOT THAT PEOPLE CAN GO BY AND DETERMINE WHAT THEY NEED FOR PATIENTS.

>> AND THERE'S A MEDICAL CANNABIS COMMISSION OVERSEEING ALL OF IT, CERTAIN OVERSEEN PROCEDURES AND EVERYTHING FROM CHRONIC PAIN TO SEIZURES, TO CANCER AND OTHER AILMENTS, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

AND SOME OTHER THINGS LIKE DEPRESSION.

THERE'S DRUGS NOW THAT YOU TAKE NOW AND THEY REQUIRE TWO WEEKS TO BUILD UP A SEROTONIN LEVEL TO MAKE YOU A LITTLE LESS -- WELL, NOT A LITTLE, BUT A LOT LESS DEPRESSED.

AND IN THE INTERIM, THERE'S A STUDY THAT JUST CAME OUT, THEY SHOW THAT THEY PUT THE PATIENT ON CANNABIS AND THE SUICIDAL IDEALIZATION WENT TO ZERO.

SO, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT THIS SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM COULD BE USED FOR.

>> AND AS WE SAID EARLIER ON, THE STIGMA, THE NAME, MARIJUANA, AND THAT CARRIES A STIGMA, AND I KNOW THAT CERTAIN PROPONENTS JUST ATTACHING THE WORD MEDICAL DOESN'T CHANGE WHAT IT IS INHERENTLY.

>> I'LL SAY THERE'S SOME TRUTH TO THAT, AND SOME NOT SO TRUTHFUL.

WHEN YOU USED ADJECTIVE, MEDICAL.

THERE'S MEDICAL GRADE PLASTIC, MEDICAL GRADE SURGICAL STEEL AND IT JUST MEANS THAT IT'S CHECKED FOR PURITY AND YOU KNOW WHAT'S THE COMPONENTS IN THERE, AS FAR AS THC.

AND WHEN YOU GO TO RECREATIONAL OR OTHER, IT'S A KNOWN SUBSTANCE.

IF YOU BUY IT OFF THE STREET, THE PURITY COULD BE WITH PESTICIDES, INSECTICIDES AND ALL THAT SORT OF THING AND IT'S NOT KNOWN.

IT COULD BE LACED WITH CHEMICALS, LIKE FENTANYL OR SOME OTHER COMPONENT.

AND THIS JUST MEANS THAT IT'S PURE, QUALITY GRADE, WITH THE KNOWN INGREDIENTS IN THERE.

AND THAT'S THE REASON FOR THAT.

BACK TO THE TERM MARIJUANA, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW HOW THE TERM ORIGINATED.

BUT IT WAS AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, LAST TURN OF THE CENTURY.

THERE WERE A LOT OF DEBUTANTES GOING TO THE BARS AND JAZZ PLAYERS WHO USED RECREATIONAL AND THIEVES AND BANDITS COMING ACROSS FROM MEXICO, CATTLE RUSTLERS, AND THEY USED THE RECREATIONAL CANNABIS AND THEY CAME UP WITH THE TERM CANNABIS THAT YOU COULD BUILD PREJUDICE AGAINST THE PRODUCT, BY THOSE EVIL MEXICANS BRINGING IT ACROSS THE BORDER.

AND IT LIVES TO THIS DAY.

SO IT'S JUST THE TERM THAT'S THERE.

I TRY TO USE THE TERM CANNABIS EVERY TIME I CAN, RATHER THAN MARIJUANA.

BUT WE'RE ALL CREATURES OF HABIT.

>> Don: WELL, TO THE POINT THAT THIS MAY BE GATEWAY OF EXPANDING RECREATIONAL USE OF MARIJUANA.

I KNOW YOU DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY AT ALL.

>> WELL, IT'S ALREADY HERE.

JEFFERSON COUNTY, I BELIEVE, THEY HAVE 15,000 CONVICTIONS ON MARIJUANA ARE GOING TO BE OVERTURNED, IF I READ THE ARTICLE RIGHT.

IT'S HERE.

AND THIS IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE.

AND THE WAY, WE HAVE NO SMOKEABLE, NO VAPING.

IT'S SIMPLY NOT ATTRACTIVE TO THE ABUSER TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GETTING A CARD, GOING TO GET THE RECOMMENDATION, GOING TO THE DISPENSARY, PAYING CASH, IT'S NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE.

AND GOING TO THE TROUBLE TO GET MINIMAL EUPHORIA OUT OF IT.

IT'S JUST NOT THE WAY TO DO IT.

YOU ARE GOING TO BUY THE SMOKEABLE, YOU KNOW, GET THE DISTRIBUTION AND THE HIGH BLOOD LEVELS IN A HURRY.

SO, THIS IS NOT -- IT'S EASY TO CONFUSE THEM BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME.

>> WELL, IF THIS IS NOT SMOKEABLE, TELL US THE FORM THAT IT COMES IN.

>> YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUAL PATIENT.

IF THE PERSON HAS DYSPHASIA, TROUBLE SWALLOWING, HE MAY WANT TO USE A NEBULIZER, OR TOPICAL CREAM.

BUT IF YOU HAVE NO PROBLEM SWALLOWING, YOU CAN GO WITH A GELTIN CAPSULE.

AND IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE PATIENT'S NEED.

>> AND THERE'S A MONUMENTAL PUSHBACK ON THIS EFFORT AND WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THE OTHER SIDE LATER IN THE SHOW.

BUT I KNOW YOU RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT SOME OF THE OPPONENTS HAVING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AS YOU PUT IT.

BECAUSE SOME OF THEM COME FROM THE ADDICTION SIDE OF THIS, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, THERE'S BEEN A GROUP OUT THERE, TWO YEARS AGO OR THREE YEARS AGO, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS, CAME UP AND ONE OF THEM WAS ACTUALLY ON MY ORIGINAL COMMISSION THAT WAS ACTUALLY APPOINTED.

AND I SAY MY COMMISSION BUT IT WAS THE GOVERNOR AND INDIVIDUALS AND HE HAD A COMPLETE CONFLICT IN MY OPINION.

HE WAS A SUBSCRIBER OR PRE PRESCRIBER WHICH IS FOR [INAUDIBLE] AND IF YOU TREAT ADDICTION, YOUR CONCERN IS NOT HAVING AN ALTERNATIVE FOR OPIOIDS WHICH WOULD BE, IN THIS CASE, CANNABIS.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN SHOWN TO HELP WITH CHRONIC PAIN AND EVEN ACUTE PAIN.

IT'S BEEN SHOWN TO HELP.

THERE'S A STUDY OUT AT UCLA, TOTAL JOINT REPLACEMENT, THEY GAVE THEM CANNABIS OR PLACEBO AND MORPHINE AND THE ONE THAT HAD THE CAN BUSINESS AND THE -- CANNABIS AND THE MORE FINE WERE 50% LESS TO USE MORPHINE.

>> NOW, YOU ARE GOING IN AND THINKING YOU HAVE THE VOTES TO ULTIMATELY GET THIS OUT?

>> DIE HAVE THE VOTES IF NOTHING CHANGES.

WE'RE JUST SHORT OF 70 PEOPLE THAT SAID THEY SUPPORT THE BILL OR WILL SUPPORT THE BILL.

AND OTHERS HAVE STATED THAT THEY ARE NOT AGAINST THE BILL, THEIR CONSTITUENTS ARE PRESSURING THEM NOT TO VOTE FOR IT.

AND THAT OBVIOUSLY MAY INFLUENCE THEM.

SO I FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THE VOTE.

IT COULD CHANGE.

RIGHT NOW, SOLID VOTE COUNT 67, IT'S MORE THAN ENOUGH TO GET THE BILL PASSED AND GET IT OUT.

>> SENATOR TIM MELSON, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Don: NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, WE EXPLORE THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

DOCTOR KENN FINN HAS SPOKEN ON HIS CONCERNS ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA, HE PRACTICES IN PAIN MEDICINE IN COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

AND HE SPEAKS TO US WHAT HE, MANY CONSIDER HIS OUTSPOKEN OPPOSITION TO THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

IS THAT HOW YOU CHARACTERIZE IT.

>> I DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF SOMEBODY AS OPPOSED TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

I NEED TO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR.

I MAY COME ACROSS AS AN ANNIHILIST.

I ACTUALLY HAVE RECOMMENDED IT TO MY PATIENTS THAT ARE DYING.

NOW, THERE'S SCIENCE-BASED AND EVIDENCE-BASED PROVIDERS, AS I CONSIDER MYSELF.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A MOUNTAIN OF PEER-REVIEWED SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE OUTLYING POTENTIAL HARMS WITH A PRODUCT THAT'S NOT BEEN WELL STUDIED OR TESTED FOR SAFETY MEASURES.

AND I BELIEVE THAT I SENT YOU THE INFORMATION FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF OREGON WHO HAS HAD A VERY ROBUST MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM ROBUST.

AND THEY AUDITED THE PROGRAM IN 2019 AND CONCLUDED THEY COULD ONLY GET 1/3 OF THE PEOPLE AND THE STORES FOR COMPLIANCE AND COULDN'T EVEN VERIFY IF THE PRODUCTS CONTAINED, OR IF THEY WERE SAFE IN AND RECENTLY, COLORADO PRODUCTS SHOWED CADIUM, ARSENIC, MOLD, MILDEW, PESTICIDES AND ANTI-COAGULENT RODENTICIDES.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A COUPLE OF RESEARCHERS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, DOCTOR SOVARSKEY, AND DID A GREAT JOB FAST TRACKING, CBD FOR THE USE IN PEDIATRIC SEIZURE.

THAT PRODUCT IS WELL TESTED AND PROVEN FREE OF INSECTSIDES.

AND CANNABIS HAS NOT SHOWN TO BE EFFECTIVE.

ZERO MEDICAL LITERATURE WITH BENEFIT AND MOUNTAINS OF EVIDENCE FOR HARMFUL.

AND WE'VE HAD MEDICAL MARIJUANA SINCE 2001 IN COLORADO, AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FOR PAIN.

SO, WHY DID COLORADO, EVEN THE PROVISIONAL 2020 DATA SHATTER ANOTHER RECORD OF OVERDOSES CONSIDERING ALL OF THE CHEMICALS.

WHY IS THAT?

NOBODY HAS EXPLAINED THAT DESPITE THE USE OF MARIJUANA FOR PAIN IN COLORADO, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE INCREASES AND INCREASES AND RECORDS AND RECORDS OF PEOPLE DYING FROM DRUG OVERDOSES.

IT'S NOT HELPING OUR DRUG EPIDEMIC.

ACTUALLY PROBABLY FEEDING AND FUELING IT.

ETHIC THERE'S A LOT OF -- I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT NEEDS TO BE SHARED.

LIKE, THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION CAME OUT WITH A PAPER IN AUGUST SHOWING THAT PEOPLE THAT USE MARIJUANA MIGHT BE AT A HIGHER RISK FOR HEART ATTACK AND SUDDEN DEATH.

THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT NEEDS TO BE OUT THERE.

BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT CAN'T BE ONE-SIDED.

AND THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE LEGISLATORS REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RISKS AND BENEFITS MAY BE.

AGAIN, I'M NOT AN ANNIHILIST, THINK MAYBE THERE'S PORTIONS OF THE PLAN THAT MAY BE BENEFICIAL FOR CERTAIN MEDICAL PLANS.

BUT YOU NEED TO PUMP THE BRAKES, PAUSE, AND GET THE INFORMATION.

EDUCATE THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA AS TO WHAT THE RISK BENEFITS MAY BE AND MAKE A DETERMINATION WHETHER OR NOT IT'S RIGHT FOR THE CITIZENS OF ALABAMA.

BECAUSE IN COLORADO, THEY ARE BASICALLY EXPERIMENTING ON THE CITIZENS WITH PRODUCTS NOT TESTED AND FREQUENTLY ARE CONTAMINATED.

>> Don: DR. FINN, I'M SURE YOU ARE AWARE THAT HERE IN ALABAMA AND OTHER PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY MENTIONED SOME OF THE CONDITIONS THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT MEDICAL MARIJUANA CAN BE USED TO TREAT THOSE SUFFERING FROM SEIZURES, CHRONIC PAIN AND ALSO, OTHER CONDITIONS LIKE CANCER, DEPRESSION, AND ANXIETY ARE MENTIONED.

NOW, YOU ARE OF THE ILK, ARE YOU NOT, THAT MEDICAL CANNABIS SHOULD NOT BE THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE WITH SOME OF THESE CONDITIONS.

>> I AM 100% SUPPORTIVE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF FDA APPROVED, CANNABIS-BASED MEDICATIONS RATHER THAN STUFF THAT PEOPLE GROW AT THEIR HOUSE OR CREATED IN SOMEBODY'S KITCHEN, GARAGE, OR BASEMENT.

OR EVEN THE ONES CREATED IN COLORADO AND IN OTHER STATES THAT ARE FREQUENTLY CONTAMINATED.

THE DISPENSARY CANNABIS HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN VERY BENEFICIAL AND THE ARTISANAL PRODUCTS MADE AT SOMEBODY'S HOUSE MIGHT BE VERY HARMFUL.

SO, I AGAIN, THINK IT'S SOMETHING WORTH EXPLORING TO REALLY COME, GET THE CANNABINOID-BASED MEDICATIONS PROVEN TO BE EFFECTIVE AND I'M A HUNDRED PERCENT SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

I AM NOT IN SUPPORT OF DISPENSARY CANNABIS BECAUSE IT'S NOT PROVEN TO BE EFFECTIVE AND THERE'S A MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE SHOWING IT'S HARMFUL.

>> I'M SURE YOU ARE AWARE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT ALABAMA HAS VISITED THE ISSUE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THE STATE.

AND IT'S ABOUT THE THIRD TIME THAT LAWMAKERS HAVE CONSIDERED THIS.

IN SPITE OF THAT, ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU STILL THINK THAT THIS ISSUE MIGHT MERIT EVEN FURTHER REVIEW?

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND THINK THAT THE DATA, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE DATA, THAT THINGS LIKE, IN AUTISM, IT'S NOT HELPFUL.

AND OUTCOMES ARE WORSE.

FOR PTSD, I LIVE IN A HIGHLY MILITARY AREA, AIR FORCE ACADEMY, NORAD EVANS, PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT I DO A LOT OF WORK, I SEE A LOT OF PATIENTS THROUGH THE MILITARY AND THEIR SPOUSES AND FAMILIES.

WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE DATA, IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT IT'S HELPFUL FOR PTSD, THERE'S A LARGE BODY OF EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS THAT THE OUTCOMES ARE WORSE IN THOSE PATIENTS THAT ARE USING CANNABIS TO TREAT THEIR PTSD AND THERE'S A MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS THAT THE USE OF MARIJUANA MAY ACTUALLY FEED INTO DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND SUICIDE AND EVEN PSYCHOSIS.

IN COLORADO, MARIJUANA IS THE MOST PREVALENT SUBSTANCE USED IN TEEN SUICIDE.

WHY IS THAT?

THEY SAY THEY DON'T WANT TO HAMPER THE KIDS, BUT INTERESTINGLY, IT USED TO BE ALCOHOL.

WE'VE NOT DONE A GOOD JOB WITH ALCOHOL, NOR TOBACCO NOR OPIOIDS AND THIS IS JUST A FOR-PROFIT INDUSTRY ADDICTION AND GOING TO CREATE HUGE SOCIETAL EFFECTS.

AND ONE LARGE HOSPITAL HERE IN COLORADO LOST $20 MILLION RELATED TO MARIJUANA EMERGENCY-RELATED EPISODES.

AND THEY THINK THAT'S A CORRECT NUMBER AND EVEN HIGHER THAN THAT.

IF YOU TAKE THAT ACROSS THE STATE HYPOTHETICALLY IT'S A HALF BILLION DOLLAR PRICE TAG.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT ALABAMA, YOU HAVE LOTS OF RURAL COMMUNITIES.

JUST TO CLEAN UP CALIFORNIA, THEY ARE SAYING $70 BILLION BECAUSE OF THE ILLEGAL MARIJUANA GROWING IN THE NATIONAL FOREST AND GROWING IT WHERE THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO GROW.

AND $70 BILLION -- AND ALABAMA WAS AFFECTED BY THE B.P.

OIL SPILL AND THAT WAS $60 BILLION.

SO, WHEN YOU THROW THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IN THERE, IT'S NOT A MONEYMAKER FOR ALABAMA, IT'S JUST CREATING ANOTHER DIVISION OF FOR-PROFIT INDUSTRY THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE A DRAIN ON THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY WHICH IS ALREADY STRESSED AND OVERTAXED.

>> NOW, BEFORE WE CLOSE, OFTEN BROUGHT UP IN THE DEBATE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA, WHETHER OR NOT IT'S A GATEWAY EXPANDED RECREATIONAL USE OF THE DRUG AS WELL.

DO YOU SHARE THOSE CONCERNS?

>> OF COURSE I DO.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ONE STATE THAT I CAN THINK OF, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD THAT HAS RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA THAT DIDN'T START WITH MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

AND I KNOW PART OF THE DEAL IS, WELL, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU, IF YOU DO GET MEDICAL.

AND BEST OF LUCK IF THEY DON'T PUSH TO MAKE IT RECREATIONAL.

BECAUSE THAT'S JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS SIMPLY THE ENTREE TO RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, EVERY STATE THAT HAS IT HAS SHOWN THAT.

>> DOCTOR KEN FINN HAS SPOKEN EXTENSIVELY OVER HIS CONCERNS ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> DON: AND THAT'S CAPITOL JOURNAL FOR TONIGHT.

COMING UP TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30, WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE STATEHOUSE, INCLUDING HOUSE ACTION ON THE RECORD EDUCATION BUDGET AND SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION ON THE RECORD GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

AND WE'LL BE JOINED BY REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS PRINGLE OF MOBILE, WHO CO-CHAIRS THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON REAPPORTIONMENT.

HE'LL DISCUSS THE CENSUS BUREAU ANNOUNCING THAT ALABAMA'S POPULATION IS UP AND WE WON'T LOSE A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

WE'LL ALSO BE JOINED BY BARRY MATSON, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ALABAMA DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION, WHO'LL TALK WITH US ABOUT LEGISLATION THAT DA'S ARE WATCHING CLOSELY.

FOR ALL OF US AT "CAPITOL JOURNAL," THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

I'M DON DAILEY.