By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com

ALABAMA — The Alabama Democratic Party (ADP) has voiced support for legalizing marijuana in the State of Alabama for both medicinal and recreational use.

In a brief statement posted to social media, ADP said, "For decades, misinformation has guided cannabis policy. But across the nation, states are generating new jobs and righting the wrongs of racist policy by legalizing the recreational use of cannabis."

"Alabama should be next," the statement continued. "It's time to legalize recreational cannabis in Alabama!"

The announcement comes on the heels of the state legislature taking up a bill that would allow the legalization of medical marijuana. The Alabama Senate has already passed the bill and the House is slated to pick up the bill before the session ends on May 17.

In a statement made to AL.com, ADP Chairman Chris England (D-Tuscaloosa) stated, "We’ve seen the progress that other states have made. Alabama could be the first state in the Deep South to legalize cannabis for recreational use. We can’t afford to let this opportunity go to another state in our region.”

As of 2021, 36 states have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes while 17 states and the District of Columbia have legalized it for recreational usage. The states with recreational and medical usage of cannabis include Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Montana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Illinois, Virginia, and Michigan.

Find more regarding the Alabama Democratic Party's announcement at aldemocrats.org/legalizeit.