Alabama Bill Would Impose Harsh Penalties for Cannabis Consumption in Vehicles with Children Present 

A bill proposed in Alabama would impose harsher penalties for individuals who consume cannabis in vehicles with children present, ABC 33/40 News reports. The legislation would classify smoking or vaping cannabis in a car with a child present as a Class-A misdemeanor, regardless of whether the vehicle is in motion, and whether the window is open or closed. 

Democratic state Rep. Patrick Sellers said the bill aims to address concerns that he’s heard from educators.    

“I kept listening to the concerns of educators, administrators, principals across the district, and one of the most alarming things is the smell and the sight of usage of marijuana within the cars as they drop kids off. And then kids have secondhand contact. … Marijuana usage has become almost normal. There was a time when people wouldn’t do that before they dropped their kids off at school. It’s affecting the ability for kids to learn and comprehend and be coherent and have a productive day at school.” — Sellers to ABC 33/40 

The bill would also require offenders to attend an in-person course on the dangers of drug use around children, require law enforcement to report violations of the law to child welfare officials, and stipulate that mandatory reporters file a report if a child smells of cannabis, treating it as suspected child abuse or neglect. 

The bill is in the chamber’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.